Mental Health Care in Maryland

Mental Health Facilities by City in Maryland

The Maryland cities with the most SAMHSA-listed mental health facilities. All 98 cities are listed below the table.

Crisis and Support Lines in Maryland

Call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org, any time. Some form of mobile crisis response and stabilization services is available in every Maryland jurisdiction for people of all ages. Contact 988 and they can connect you to mobile crisis services if appropriate. In 19 jurisdictions, in-person mobile crisis team support is available 24/7/365. Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS) serve children, youth, and families.

• Maryland crisis services

Maryland's Mental Health Agency

Behavioral Health Administration, Maryland Department of Health oversees public mental health services in Maryland.

• Behavioral Health Administration, Maryland Department of Health
• Find local services through Behavioral Health Administration, Maryland Department of Health

Medicaid Mental Health Coverage in Maryland

Maryland's Medicaid program is Maryland Medicaid; HealthChoice (Maryland Medicaid's managed care program). Maryland Medicaid provides primary behavioral health care, such as assessment and treatment for mild depression or anxiety, separately from specialty behavioral health services, like treatment for serious mental illness or substance use disorders. HealthChoice members receive primary behavioral health services through their managed care organization. Specialty behavioral health services are carved out of managed care and paid fee-for-service; all Medicaid members work with the behavioral health administrative services organization, Carelon, to access covered specialty behavioral health services. Most behavioral health medications are also carved out and processed by the Medicaid Fee-for-Service Pharmacy Program. Covered mental health services the state names include primary behavioral health care through your primary care provider, such as assessment and treatment for mild depression or anxiety, specialty behavioral health services, such as treatment for serious mental illness or substance use disorders, psychotherapy, medication management, behavioral health counseling, psychological testing and evaluation, Collaborative Care Model services in primary care practices and behavioral health-related medications through the Fee-for-Service Pharmacy Program. Specialty behavioral health providers request preauthorizations through Carelon. Specialty providers include licensed clinical professional counselors, licensed clinical social workers, psychiatric nurse practitioners, psychiatrists, psychologists, and specialty mental health programs licensed by the Behavioral Health Administration.

• Maryland Medicaid; HealthChoice (Maryland Medicaid's managed care program) mental health services
• Maryland Medicaid behavioral health

Core Service Agencies (CSA) and Local Behavioral Health Authorities (LBHA)

Each Maryland jurisdiction has at least one behavioral health agency that coordinates directly with the Behavioral Health Administration. CSAs are the county or multicounty authority responsible for planning, managing, and monitoring publicly funded mental health services, and LBHAs do the same for publicly funded mental health, substance-related, and addictive disorder services.

• Core Service Agencies (CSA) and Local Behavioral Health Authorities (LBHA) in Maryland

Check a Therapist's License in Maryland

Before you start, confirm your therapist or psychologist holds an active Maryland license.

• Psychologists: Maryland Board of Examiners of Psychologists
• Professional counselors and marriage and family therapists: Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists
• Social workers: Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners

Guides for Your Next Step

See how to find a therapist, how sliding-scale therapy works, whether Medicaid covers therapy and the difference between a psychiatrist and a therapist.

Related on rehab.help: addiction treatment in Maryland.

Frequently Asked Questions