Massachusetts Mental Health Resources
Mental Health in Massachusetts
Home to inviting coastal beaches and charming colonial homes, Massachusetts is also known for positive mental health. Mental Health America ranked the state #1 in 2024, meaning Massachusetts has the lowest prevalence of mental illness with the highest rate of access to care.
The Bay State has consistently ranked high for mental health. An important factor is access to mental health treatment. The state has the highest number of mental health providers per capita. Massachusetts residents also tend to have strong insurance coverage, and they benefit from integration of behavioral healthcare with primary care.
State-wide initiatives to continue this positive trend include a network of Community Behavioral Health Centers. These provide access to mental health treatment, including 24/7 mobile crisis services for everyone – regardless of ability to pay. Policy makers behind these and similar programs aim to keep treatment access high and maintain the state’s top rankings for mental health.
#1
Massachusetts ranks first for mental health care in the U.S.
Free Mental Health Resources in Massachusetts
NAMI Massachusetts is an affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Its work statewide delivers free peer/family support groups, educational workshops, professional training for educators and first responders, and assistance navigating the mental health system through its helpline (617-704-6264). Programs are facilitated by people with lived experience.
The Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line (BHHL) is a free 24/7 service connecting residents to immediate clinical support for mental health and substance use issues. Individuals can get treatment referrals, access crisis intervention, search online for resources, and receive guidance through phone, text, or live chat. No insurance is required and accommodations for hard-of-hearing individuals are available.
The Massachusetts Association for Mental Health (MAMH) website offers a collection of MA-based helplines and online resources to connect residents to mental health providers, crisis services, and treatment options through referral assistance (617-742-7452). MAMH's work also includes policy reform advocacy, creating educational resources on behavioral health, developing programs for older adults, and supplying legal assistance resources for healthcare access and guardianship issues.
The Massachusetts Substance Abuse Information and Education Helpline is a tool operated by the Department of Public Health. It offers individuals free, confidential 24/7 help including referrals, harm reduction initiatives (like naloxone distribution and syringe programs), treatment program information, support group details, and recovery services for substance use and disordered gambling.
Provide Services for
Eating Disorders
Substance Abuse
Call2Talk is a confidential mental health and emotional support call line working 24/7 to assist Massachusetts residents with crisis intervention and suicide prevention. Individuals experiencing distress or suicidal thoughts can get immediate help via phone and text in a safe environment. Call2Talk also provides weekly check-in calls for isolated seniors, support groups for suicide loss survivors, and community education workshops on mental health awareness.
Mass.gov Mental Health and Counseling Services are official informational resources operated by the state of Massachusetts. Individuals can receive guidance on how to get on Medicaid, access psychiatric evaluations, psychological counseling, helplines (833-773-2445), inpatient/outpatient treatments, medication management, crisis intervention, treatment matching services, insurance navigation assistance, and multilingual support in over 200 languages.
North Shore LGBTQIA+ Resources is a collection of online and local resources for North Shore area LGBTQ+ individuals. Residents can browse educational forums on LGBTQ+ issues like transgender rights, disability awareness, and legal updates. Their website's catalog of offerings connects community members to health services, crisis intervention, addiction recovery, elder care, and violence prevention programs throughout Massachusetts.
Provide Services for
Teens & Students
BIPOC
LGBTQ
Men
Women
Disability
Boston Medical Center's Community Behavioral Health Center provides 24/7 crisis intervention, mobile crisis teams, urgent mental health care, substance use treatment, community stabilization units for youth and adults, psychiatric evaluation, and ongoing therapy for all ages in Boston and Brookline. Residents can access services on a sliding scale and apply for financial assistance.
The Justice Resource Institute provides free HIV/STI testing, PrEP, mental health counseling, and drop-in centers for LGBTQ+ youth (ages 13-29) in Boston and Framingham. MA youth can access support groups, leadership opportunities, programs for minorities, and in-home therapy. They also administer initiatives offering essential resources like food, toiletries, and computer access.
Provide Services for
Teens & Students
BIPOC
LGBTQ
Men
Women
Disability
The Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth connects MA LGBT youth to safe spaces and gender-affirming online and in-person mental health care resources. The commission hosts community events, implements initiatives to reduce suicide risk among LGBTQ students, and advises government entities on youth policies while operating the Safe Schools Program that trains schools statewide.
Provide Services for
Teens & Students
BIPOC
LGBTQ
Men
Women
The Massachusetts Behavioral Health Access (MABHA) is an online platform connecting MA residents with available openings in behavioral health services in the state. Individuals can browse a searchable database of youth and family services, find substance use disorder treatment programs, and locate mental health resources within their communities.
The Behavioral Health Help Line (BHHL) Online Service Directory offers Massachusetts residents a confidential search tool to locate mental health and substance use services near them. Individuals can filter results by service type, payment options, cost (including centers accepting uninsured individuals), distance, and specialized needs. A phone line (833-773-2445) offering 24/7 assistance is also available.
Veterans Affairs Boston helps Massachusetts veterans access treatment for PTSD, depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. Services available include medication management, individual, group, and family therapy, residential housing with treatment programs, telehealth appointments, and specialized employment assistance. Their website lists phone numbers and addresses for VA clinics in important MA cities.
Provide Services for
Men
Women
Seniors
Veterans
Depression
PTSD
Anxiety
Grief
Substance Abuse
The Statewide Advocacy for Veterans Empowerment (SAVE) Program is an initiative providing veteran-to-veteran outreach to prevent suicide and address mental health challenges. MA veterans can obtain personalized assistance to access benefits, healthcare support, housing aid, counseling for transition challenges and civilian reintegration, and employment services through three Massachusetts offices.
Provide Services for
Men
Women
Seniors
Veterans
Depression
PTSD
Anxiety
Grief
Substance Abuse
Community Behavioral Health Centers (CBHCs) is a network of centers providing mental health and substance use services and treatment at over 25 Massachusetts locations. These centers are one-stop-shops for addressing MA residents' immediate needs regardless of insurance status. 24/7 crisis intervention, individual and group therapy, psychiatric evaluations, addiction medication, and peer support are available.