May 5, 2023 - As part of continuing efforts by the Biden-Harris Administration to increase access to mental health and substance use resources, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has launched FindSupport.gov, a new user-friendly website, designed for the general public, to help people identify available resources, explore unbiased information about various treatment options, and learn how to reach out to get the support they need for issues related to mental health, drugs, or alcohol.
FindSupport.gov helps people navigate through common questions when they are at the start of their journey to better behavioral health, such as how to ask for help, how to help others and how to search for a health care professional or support program that meets their needs. The website provides information on how to find treatment and support based on insurance status, including Medicaid, Medicare, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs health care, TRICARE, private insurance, and no insurance. And FindSupport.gov features resources on how to set up an appointment so that when people meet with a health care professional, they can feel confident that they are taking the right steps.
The concept for FindSupport.gov was developed by HHS’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in response to research showing that people were looking for an unbiased, trustworthy source of information on how to get support for mental health and substance use issues.
“Improving access to mental health and substance use services for the public remains central to SAMHSA’s mission and vision,” said SAMHSA Administrator Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D. “By launching this new web resource, we are improving the customer experience of government programs and services by making often confusing but important information easy to understand and act on for all Americans. At SAMHSA, we are thrilled to host this resource that will help people find the support they need.”
“CMS is committed to ensuring everyone can take care of their mental health just as easily as they get treated for a broken bone,” said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. “FindSupport.gov will help us achieve that goal so that every American can find the right provider. A problem this significant requires everyone to get involved, and I’m proud to join with my colleagues from across HHS in support of the millions of people who need our support.”
Nearly 1 in 3 adults have mental health, substance use, or co-occurring issues, according to SAMHSA’s most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health. In 2022, SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) received more than 1.1 million calls and the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which launched in July 2022, received more than 2.1 million contacts (calls, texts, and chats) between July and December 2022.
FindSupport.gov was built to be a useful tool to meet the needs of the diverse general public, and its development was based on input and usability testing with people across the country, from both urban and rural areas, of various races, ethnicities, and genders, with a variety of education levels, and ages 18 to 85. The FindSupport.gov team also conducted web metrics analysis and an environmental scan of existing resources and consulted more than 50 subject matter experts from across HHS and other agencies.
FindSupport.gov also features inclusive success stories in plain language that illustrate different types of behavioral health experiences; lists of how to talk to someone about getting help; steps on how to cope with mental health, drug, or alcohol issues; signs of when to seek help and tools to ask for help; and information on how to pay for treatment with or without insurance.
The website is intended to support the President’s Unity Agenda and its goal to increase access to behavioral health resources. Using human-centered design methods, site developers aimed to deliver a product that responded to the public’s needs.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.
To learn how to get support for mental health, drug or alcohol issues, visit FindSupport.gov. If you are ready to locate a treatment facility or provider, you can also go directly to FindTreatment.gov or call 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Source: SAMSHA
