Vermont Mental Health Resources
Mental Health in Vermont
While it’s known for ski retreats and beautiful mountains, beneath the blanket of snow we find a layer Vermont that isn’t featured in vacation brochures. More than 100,000 Vermonters have a mental health condition, and 27,000 Vermont adults have a serious mental illness.
Fortunately, The Green Mountain State offers support for these residents. In fact, at number seven in Mental Health America’s state rankings, Vermont outpaces much of the nation for access to mental health care.
Still, the state is not without its struggles. The suicide rate and self-harm rates here are higher than the national average and have been on the rise in recent years. Additionally, data from the Vermont Department of Health shows that a third of the state’s high school students are struggling with mental health issues.
Over 100,000
Vermont residents living with a mental illness
27,000
Adults in Vermont who have a serious mental illness
To combat these numbers, the Vermont Department of Health offers targeted programs such as Facing Suicide VT and the Vermont Helplink. Throughout the state, Vermonters can also find Designated Agencies and Designated Hospitals operating under Vermont Care Partners with the goal of providing quality, reliable care for those affected by mental health conditions.
Free Mental Health Resources in Vermont
The Vermont Department of Mental Health's "How to Get Help" website is a hub of regional mental health hotlines providing residents with 24/7 crisis support. Individuals can access suicide prevention support, obtain immediate mental health crisis intervention, receive counseling, get peer support for themselves and their families, and get connected to local mental health and substance abuse resources.
VA White River Junction Health Care provides confidential mental health and healthcare services to Vermont's LGBTQ+ community veterans. In a supportive environment that recognizes same-sex partners in all documentation and care decisions, individuals can access psychosocial assessments for hormone therapy and gender-affirming surgery, creative arts therapies, hormone therapy, gender-affirming prosthetics, HIV and STI testing, and preventive screenings.
Provide Services for
LGBTQ
Veterans
Depression
PTSD
Anxiety
Substance Abuse
As an affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, NAMI Vermont is instrumental in offering residents support, developing educational resources, and leading advocacy initiatives to promote Vermont's mental health. Peer-led support groups, educational workshops on mental illness and recovery strategies, and family education classes teaching coping skills are available.
Spectrum Youth and Family Services offers Vermont youth (ages 12-30) a haven for accessing empathetic mental health and substance abuse support. Young Vermonters can obtain mental health counseling, access healthcare services, get employment training, visit drop-in centers offering meals and computer access, find housing and substance recovery programs, attend mentoring opportunities, and apply for direct cash transfers to combat homelessness.
Provide Services for
Teens & Students
Depression
Anxiety
Substance Abuse
United Counseling Service (UCS) provides comprehensive mental health care services for Bennington County residents. Free emergency crisis intervention, counseling, psychiatric care, outpatient mental health substance abuse treatment options, developmental services, and children's programs are available.
Vermont 2-1-1 is a free and confidential informational and referral hub that connects Vermonters to essential mental health and substance abuse recovery services. Through a line that operates 24 hours a day, anyone in distress can access crisis intervention counseling, housing assistance, food programs, healthcare services, mental health resources, and referrals. An online database is available to search for local resources.
Vermont's Free & Referral Clinics provide no-cost medical, dental, and mental health services at eight locations in the state. Individuals and families can access mental health support and counseling, obtain medication prescriptions, case management, and guidance on navigating health insurance.
Pathways Vermont Support Line is a resource Vermont residents can count on to access free, confidential, non-judgmental support for their mental health needs. The 24/7 helpline connects individuals to peer support groups, housing aid, healthcare services, and counseling for psychological crises.
Pride Center of Vermont offers LGBTQ+ residents a safe space to access essential mental health services. LGBTQ+ communities can get psychological care, join support groups, attend community-building events, participate in wellness programs, attend educational workshops, access HIV testing services, and obtain healthcare provider referrals.
Provide Services for
LGBTQ
Howard Center offers multiple programs aimed at improving Vermont residents' well-being. Individuals of all ages can receive 24/7 crisis intervention and mental health counseling, find substance use treatment options, receive employment coaching, residential care, family treatment programs, a mobile substance use unit serving rural communities, and developmental disability services available at multiple locations.
Northeast Kingdom Human Services (NKHS) provides residents with free crisis intervention, mental health counseling, and support services. Individuals can call during a crisis for an immediate response, access suicide prevention campaigns, get employment assistance, locate rehabilitation programs, request specialized youth therapy, and participate in impaired driver rehabilitation programs.
Washington County Mental Health Services offers mental health, developmental, and substance abuse services to individuals and families in Washington and Orange County towns. Around-the-clock crisis intervention, substance abuse treatments, evidence-based therapy, school-based programs, and community support are available.
Rutland Mental Health Services serves Rutland County families with mental health, developmental, and substance abuse programs. Residents can count on their team to access a hotline with 24/7 availability for crises, seek behavioral health treatment, receive substance abuse counseling, get developmental disability support, obtain residential care options, and participate in therapeutic recreation activities.
Provide Services for
Seniors
Teens & Students
Clara Martin Center provides mental health crisis intervention, individualized therapy for children and adults, school-based counseling, developmental services, and substance use recovery programs in Orange County, Vermont. With over 50 years of community service, they welcome uninsured individuals and operate a 24/7 emergency hotline and an online portal for appointment scheduling and provider communication.
Provide Services for
Teens & Students
Men
Women
LGBTQ
Counseling Service of Addison County (CSAC) has supported Addison County families for over 60 years. Their mental health, developmental, and substance abuse services promote health and well-being initiatives across the community. A 24/7 emergency mental health crisis hotline, individual therapy, support groups, psychiatric medication management, residential treatment programs, community-based support, educational workshops, and suicide prevention resources are available.
Provide Services for
Depression
PTSD
Anxiety
Substance Abuse
Autism