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Behavioral Health Resources

National and State Resources:

OIFA Behavioral Health Advocacy

The DDD Office of Individual and Family Affairs (OIFA) includes a Behavioral Health Advocacy Unit with advocates who work closely with members and/or their responsible person to ensure their voices and choices are heard and respected. The advocates are able to assist in:

  • Breaking down barriers that prevent access to behavioral health services.
  • Navigating the behavioral health system.
  • Connecting members and families to community resources.
  • Assisting members and families as part of the planning team.

Members having problems getting behavioral health services should talk to their Support Coordinator and they will connect an advocate to the member.

Crisis Services

If you, a family member, or a friend have a mental health emergency, it is important that you seek help right away. Trained crisis staff are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to help over the phone. The Crisis lines are free, confidential, and open to anyone who needs help. For medical, police and fire emergency situations, always call 911.

Crisis Services

National 24-Hour Crisis Hotlines

Phone

  • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988
  • National Substance Use and Disorder Issues Referral and Treatment Hotline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

Text

  • Send a text to 988
  • Text the word "HOME" to 741741

Chat

For TTY Users

  • Use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988

Statewide Crisis Services

Suicide and Crisis Hotlines by County

  • Apache Country: Arizona Complete Health - Complete Care Plan, 1-866-495-6735
  • Cochise County: Arizona Complete Health - Complete Care Plan, 1-866-495-6735
  • Coconino County: Care1st, 1-877-756-4090
  • Gila County: Mercy Care, 1-800-631-1314
  • Graham County: Arizona Complete Health - Complete Care Plan, 1-866-495-6735
  • Greenlee County: Arizona Complete Health - Complete Care Plan, 1-866-495-6735
  • La Paz County: Arizona Complete Health - Complete Care Plan, 1-866-495-6735
  • Navajo County: Care1st, 1-877-756-4090
  • Maricopa County: Mercy Care, 1-800-631-1314
  • Mohave: Care1st, 1-877-756-4090
  • Pima County: Arizona Complete Health - Complete Care Plan, 1-866-495-6735
  • Pinal County: Mercy Care, 1-866-495-6735
  • Santa Cruz County: Arizona Complete Health - Complete Care Plan, 1-866-495-6735
  • Yuma County: Arizona Complete Health - Complete Care Plan, 1-866-495-6735
  • Yavapai County: Care1st, 1-877-756-4090
  • Ak-Chin Indian Community: 1-800-259-3449
  • Gila River Indian Community: 1-800-259-3449
  • Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community: 1-855-331-6432
  • Tohono O’odham Nation: 1-844-423-8759

Especially for Teens

  • Teen Life Line phone or text: 602-248-TEEN (8336)

Especially for Veterans

  • Veterans Crisis Line: 988 (press 1)
  • Be Connected: 1-866-4AZ-VETS (429-8387)

Services for Students

Students in need of behavioral health services may receive many of those services directly on school campuses. A referral may be made but is not required to initiate behavioral health services. Referrals or requests for services may be made by the school, family, member, or anyone assisting the member, directly to a behavioral health provider or through the member’s assigned health plan. A member’s Support Coordinator is also available to assist with referring and seeking behavioral health services through the member’s health plan. 

The Division’s Behavioral Health Administration provides oversight of the subcontracted health plans and fee-for-service Tribal Health Program. For general information regarding behavioral health resources or to speak with the Division's Behavioral Health Administration, school administrators are encouraged to contact the Division's Customer Service Center.

Visit the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) Accessing Behavioral Health Services in Schools web page for more information.

If a school district or administrator would like information on behavioral health services within their geographic area or are interested in obtaining a partnership with a behavioral health provider, schools may reach out to one of the following:

The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System also offers behavioral health services for uninsured/underinsured students through the state's Regional Behavioral Health Authorities (RBHA).

DDD Health Plan and Tribal Health Program

Individuals eligible for the Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS) can receive behavioral health services through their DDD Health Plan or the Tribal Health Program. Available services include:

  • Adult Behavioral Health Therapeutic Homes
  • Behavior Analysis Services
  • Behavior Management (personal care, family support/home care training, peer support)
  • Behavioral Health Case Management Services (with limitations)
  • Behavioral Health Residential Facility
  • Crisis Intervention Services
  • Emergency Behavioral Health Care
  • Emergency and Non-Emergency Transportation
  • Evaluation and Assessment
  • Individual, Group and Family Therapy, and Counseling
  • Inpatient Hospital Services
  • Intensive Outpatient and Behavioral Health Day Programs
  • Non-Hospital Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities
  • Laboratory and Radiology Services for Psychotropic Medication Regulation and Diagnosis
  • Opioid Agonist Treatment
  • Partial Care (supervised day program, therapeutic day program, and medical day program)
  • Permanent Supportive Housing
  • Psychotropic Medication Adjustment and Monitoring
  • Rehabilitation Services (living skills training; health promotion; supported employment services)
  • Respite Care (with limitations)
  • Rural Substance Abuse Transitional Agency Services
  • Screening
  • Therapeutic Foster Care
     

Serious Mental Illness (SMI) Designation

Any individual who is 17.5 years or older and currently receiving behavioral health care services can be referred for an SMI evaluation. Evaluations can be requested by the member, their legal representative and in some instances the Court system. If you think you have a Serious Mental Illness (SMI) but have not been determined as such, talk to your Support Coordinator who will assist you. A serious mental illness (SMI) is a mental disorder that is severe and persistent. Any qualifying AHCCCS behavioral health intake provider can perform a Serious Mental Illness (SMI) eligibility evaluation. Members asking for a determination of serious mental illness and members who have been determined to have a serious mental illness can appeal the result of a serious mental illness determination.

Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED) Designation

A serious emotional disturbance (SED) designation is for individuals from birth up to age 18 who currently, or at any time during the past year, have had a diagnosable mental or emotional disorder of sufficient duration to meet diagnostic criteria specified within the current version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders that resulted in functional impairment, which substantially interferes with or limits the child's role or functioning in family, school, or community activities.

All individuals from birth to 18 years of age shall be evaluated for SED eligibility by a qualified clinician and have an SED eligibility determination made by the determining entity if the individual or their Health Care Decision Maker (HCDM) makes such a request.

An SED determination requires both a qualifying SED diagnosis and functional impairment because of the qualifying diagnosis.

An individual must have dysfunction in at least one of the following four domains, for most of the past six months, or for most of the past three months with an expected continued duration of at least three months:

  1. Seriously disruptive to family and/or community.
  2. Dysfunction in role performance.
  3. Child and Adolescent Level of Care Utilization System (CALOCUS) recommended level of care 4, 5, or 6, or
  4. Risk of deterioration: 
    1. A qualifying diagnosis with probable chronic, relapsing, and remitting course,
    2. Co-morbidities,
    3. Persistent or chronic factors such as social isolation, poverty, extreme chronic stressors, or 
    4. Other factors as outlined in policy.
       
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