Pennsylvania mental health care is administered through the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, which oversees public behavioral health programs and community mental health services across the state. Crisis support is available 24/7 through 988. NAMI Pennsylvania affiliates and the state's 211 services provide peer support and local navigation.
Pennsylvania administers public mental health services through the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. The resources below cover state-level crisis lines, the state mental health authority, the NAMI state affiliate, and other Pennsylvania-specific points of contact for anxiety, depression, and related conditions.
Pennsylvania uses HealthChoices Behavioral Health, a county-managed Medicaid behavioral health program, to deliver public mental health services. Specialty psychiatric capacity is concentrated in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Hershey, anchored by five academic medical schools. The rural counties between the major metros rely heavily on community mental health centers and telepsychiatry.
Crisis lines
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Call or text 988 anywhere in the United States, including from Pennsylvania. Free and confidential, 24/7. For chat, visit 988lifeline.org.
- Pennsylvania 211. Dial 211 from anywhere in Pennsylvania for non-emergency help connecting to mental health, substance use, housing, food, and basic-needs referrals.
State mental health authority
- Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. The SAMHSA-designated state authority for public behavioral health programs, community mental health services, and licensing in Pennsylvania. Phone: 717-705-3879.
NAMI Pennsylvania
- Find a NAMI affiliate in Pennsylvania. NAMI Pennsylvania affiliates run free education programs, support groups, and advocacy. NAMI HelpLine: 800-950-NAMI (6264). Text NAMI to 62640. For crisis, call or text 988.
Treatment locators
- FindSupport.gov / SAMHSA Help Finder. Federal tool for finding health care, support, treatment options, and payment information. 1-877-SAMHSA-7 (1-877-726-4727).
- FindTreatment.gov. Federal treatment locator searchable by Pennsylvania zip code for mental health and substance-use treatment programs.
University and academic medical centers
The academic medical centers in Pennsylvania operate outpatient psychiatry clinics. Wait times for new patients are often several weeks, and some specialty programs may have longer wait lists.
- University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry. Department of psychiatry at University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.
- Penn State College of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health. Department of psychiatry at Penn State College of Medicine.
- Temple University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science. Department of psychiatry at Temple University.
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry. Department of psychiatry at University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.