Mental Health

Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. And just like you sometimes need physical health care, sometimes you need extra support to take care of your mental health too.

Mental health problems are common and treatable. Learn how to get the care you need or how to support the people around you.

Finding Mental Health Care

Start by contacting the mental health providers of your choice, and select a provider you want to work with. These may be options for your care:

  • Counseling, medications, and other mental health care may be covered by your private insurance.
  • Talk with the provider you choose to find out if they accept your insurance plan, and ask them to help you figure out the costs of any co-payments you are responsible for.
  • Schedule an evaluation appointment with the provider. During the evaluation, they will learn about your history and living conditions. If you are diagnosed with a mental health condition, they will recommend a course of treatment for you to follow.

Low-Income Options

If you don’t have private insurance coverage for mental health care, there are still options for you. You may be eligible for Medicaid (also called Apple Health) or other programs that can help cover the costs of mental health treatment. Learn more at Washington HealthPlan Finder.

Crisis Services

Immediate help is available during a mental health crisis, by phone, text, online chat, or in-person:

Explore more options in Whatcom County by visiting our Behavioral Health Crisis Resources page. 

Learn More About Mental Health

Mental health affects how you think, feel, and act. It affects how you make choice, relate to others, and handle stress. During your lifetime, you or someone close to you might experience mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, or substance use disorder order.

These resources can help you learn more. 

Talking to a Loved One About Their Mental Health

Support from friends and family can make a big difference for someone with a mental health disorder. Talking to a loved one is a chance to provide information, support, and guidance. If a friend or family member is reaching out to you for help or showing signs of a mental health problem, you can:

  • Ask questions, listen to ideas, and be responsive when the topic of mental health problems comes up.
  • Express your concern and support.
  • Find out if they are getting the care they need.
  • Offer to help with everyday tasks.
  • Reassure your loved that you care about them.

Get more tips for talking about mental health.

Fighting the Stigma

People with serious disorders, such as mental illnesses, are often viewed negatively by others because they may appear to think and act differently. Mental illness can cause difficulties with trust, anxiety, hallucinations, and other symptoms.

But 1 in 5 people experience mental health illness every year. And people with serious mental illnesses deserve understanding, kindness, and respect in same way as any other person with a serious illness. Learn ways that you can help fight mental health stigma.

Our Role

We partner with local agencies to fill the gaps in our community’s behavioral health service system with the goal of making behavioral health care more available for everyone in our community who needs it.

We don’t provide treatment, but where state and federal funds don’t pay for behavioral health care – particularly for people without insurance – we help make sure services are provided.

Programs