What if I need mental health help right now but can't afford to pay?

Call 988 immediately if you are in crisis—it is free and available 24/7. For non-emergency care, call 2-1-1 to find a DCF-funded community mental health center near you. These centers are required to see patients regardless of ability to pay and use a sliding-fee scale based on income. Florida Medicaid may also cover your care if you qualify—you can apply at ACCESS Florida or through a 2-1-1 specialist.

Does Florida Medicaid cover therapy and psychiatry?

Yes. Florida Medicaid covers outpatient mental health services including individual and group therapy, psychiatric evaluations, and medication management for eligible members. Coverage details can vary depending on your Medicaid managed care plan. To find out which providers accept your plan, contact your managed care plan directly or call the Medicaid helpline at 1-877-254-1055.

How do I find a mobile crisis team in my Florida county?

Mobile crisis teams—which dispatch mental health professionals to respond in person rather than sending law enforcement—are funded through DCF Managing Entities in most parts of Florida. The fastest way to locate yours is to call 2-1-1 and describe what you need; the specialist will connect you with the appropriate crisis resource for your county. You can also call 988, as crisis counselors can coordinate with local mobile teams.

Are there mental health resources specifically for children and teens in Florida?

Yes. Florida's DCF-funded community mental health centers serve children and adolescents, and many offer school-based mental health services coordinated through local school districts. Florida Medicaid covers behavioral health services for children including therapy and psychiatric care. For youth in crisis, 988 is available by call or text. To find child-specific providers, call 2-1-1 or contact your local DCF service center—staff can connect you with children's case management services if ongoing support is needed.

Mental Health Resources in Florida

Last updated September 29, 2026

Florida residents facing mental health challenges have access to a range of crisis, outpatient, and long-term support services. The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) oversees the state's public mental health system and funds a network of community mental health centers across all 67 counties. These centers provide services on a sliding-fee scale and are often the starting point for uninsured or underinsured individuals seeking psychiatric evaluation, therapy, or medication management.

If you are in immediate crisis, call or text 988 (the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) any time—day or night. Trained counselors are available 24/7, and the line has a dedicated Veterans press option. For non-emergency help finding local mental health providers, mobile crisis teams, or financial assistance, call 2-1-1 Florida, a free statewide helpline that connects callers to services by ZIP code and is available around the clock in multiple languages.

Florida Medicaid covers a broad set of behavioral health services—including individual therapy, psychiatry, and substance use treatment—for eligible low-income adults and children. If you are uninsured, the DCF-funded community mental health centers are required to provide care regardless of ability to pay. A social worker or case manager can help you navigate eligibility, coordinate care across providers, and connect you with additional supports like housing, food assistance, and transportation.

Key programs in Florida

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Free, confidential 24/7 crisis counseling for anyone experiencing a mental health emergency, suicidal thoughts, or emotional distress. Includes a dedicated Veterans press option and online chat.

How to access: Call or text 988 from any phone, anywhere in Florida, at no cost. Chat is available at 988lifeline.org.

Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) – Managing Entities & Community Mental Health Centers

DCF funds regional Managing Entities that contract with local community mental health centers throughout Florida to deliver outpatient therapy, psychiatric services, crisis stabilization, and substance use treatment on a sliding-fee scale regardless of insurance status.

How to access: Call 2-1-1 or visit myflfamilies.com and search 'substance abuse and mental health' to find the Managing Entity and contracted provider nearest you. You can also ask your county health department for a referral.

Florida Medicaid Behavioral Health Services

Florida Medicaid covers mental health and substance use disorder services—including outpatient therapy, psychiatric evaluations, medication management, and inpatient care—for eligible low-income adults, children, pregnant women, and people with disabilities.

How to access: Apply online at ACCESS Florida (myflorida.com/accessflorida), call 1-866-762-2237, or visit your local DCF service center. Eligibility is determined based on income, household size, and other factors.

2-1-1 Florida

A free, statewide information and referral helpline that connects Florida residents to local mental health providers, mobile crisis teams, peer support programs, housing, food assistance, and other social services by ZIP code.

How to access: Dial 2-1-1 from any phone (available 24/7, multilingual), text your ZIP code to 898-211, or search online at 211florida.org. Specialists can also help with applications for other benefits.

VA Mental Health Services (for Veterans)

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provides comprehensive mental health care—including PTSD treatment, depression and anxiety services, substance use programs, and the Veterans Crisis Line—to eligible Florida veterans through VA medical centers and community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs) statewide.

How to access: Contact your nearest VA medical center or CBOC, call the VA national line at 1-800-827-1000, or for crisis support call 988 and press 1. Find Florida VA locations at va.gov/find-locations.

Mental Health Resources resources for Florida

AMP Mental Health

SAMHSA-listed mental health treatment facility.

Miami, Florida305-204-9355

Mental Health Resources in Florida

Key programs in Florida

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) – Managing Entities & Community Mental Health Centers

Florida Medicaid Behavioral Health Services

2-1-1 Florida

VA Mental Health Services (for Veterans)

Mental Health Resources resources for Florida

AMP Mental Health

Advocate Program — Central Location

Allpure Behavioral Health — Miami

Banyan Health Systems — Detoxification Center

Better Way of Miami Inc

Borinquen Behavioral Health Center — Wynwood

Camillus House

Care Resource Comm Health Ctrs — DBA Care Resource

Community Health of South Florida Inc — Coconut Grove

Concept Health Systems Inc — Adult/Adolescent Outpatient/Prevention

Coral CMHC Inc

Douglas Gardens CMHC

Edgar Pena LMHC CAP and Associates — MB Outpatient Psychotherapy Treatment

Equilibrium Centro Terapeutico

Jewish Community Services of — South Florida

New Horizons Community MH Ctr — Substance Abuse Unit

Regis House

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Find Support Today

NAMI HelpLine

Other resources in Florida

Mental Health Resources in other states