Treatment at Community Mental Health Centers

[The empressof all]

Who here is in treatment with local Community Mental Health Centers. How has your experience been? Are you satisfied with your care? Do you have a case manager, counselor or therapist. How often can you see a medication prescriber?

Just curious.

[Droopy]

1. If you're talking about free clinics or

pay what you can clinics, I have no experience with them. But I did enquire about them at one point. It is my understanding that a free clinic will not be able to provide you with low or no cost prescriptions, just counseling.

[The empressof all]

3. CMHC

I'm referring to clinics or programs that accept state aid. Generally these are non-profits who have contracts with the state or county Human Services Department and receive govt. funding for care. They take medicaid, medicare or are on a sliding scale for private pay based on income.

They usually provide Case Management, Psychiatric Medication Prescriptions, sometimes therapy, Day treatment/clubhouse, vocational services.

I'm asking as I have a close family member stuggling to get appropriate services. They live across the country from me so I'm only able to advocate by phone.

I was curious if anyone else here had trouble with the "system".

[derbstyron]

2. My experience has been wonderful

I lost my personal shrink when I had to quit working and lost insurance.

The community center has me coming for visits every two weeks for visits with a shrink and therapist. The therapist has been trying to help me find better help with my anorexia (I'm a male and she doesn't know what to do; struggles with eating disorders in general).

The shrink has given me tons of samples, directed me to a pharmacy where I can get my Lithium for only two dollars and signed me up for numerous patient assistance programs (I'm on a drug cocktail of many meds) to help get me drugs for free.

I'm quite surprised. And pleased!