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Division of Mental Health/Division of Behavioral Health

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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• Who provides public mental health services where I live?
• How do I find out if I’m eligible for mental health services?
• Who can I call if I want to complain about a mental health professional or other provider?
• How can I participate on the Colorado Mental Health Planning and Advisory Council?
• Will I get paid to be a member of the Council?
• How do I get a copy of a report?
• Where is the Division located?
• What part of state government is the Division?
• How do I find out if I qualify for public assistance programs, such as Medicaid?
• What do I do if someone I know is considering suicide or might seriously hurt someone else?
• What is a “mental health hold”?
• How do I get more information about a piece of legislation?
• How do I find out if my child can qualify for residential services?

For Frequently Asked Questions related to specific programs, please click on the links below:

• Child Mental Health Treatment Act FAQs
  
• CCAR Frequently Asked Questions

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Q. Who provides public mental health services where I live?

A. Most public mental health services are provided by one of 17 local community mental health centers. The centers are responsible for serving people within a defined geographic region.

Q. How do I find out if I’m eligible for mental health services?

A. The determination of eligibility for mental health services is made at your local community mental health center. The determination is based on the level of need, as well as the availability of services. If you are not eligible for Medicaid, you may be required to pay some of the cost of the services you receive.

Q. Who can I call if I want to complain about a mental health professional or other provider?

A. You may call the Division of Mental Health, which is primarily responsible for public mental health services delivered by community mental health agencies, or the Department of Regulatory Agencies, which is primarily responsible for receiving complaints about individual, licensed professionals.

Q. How can I participate on the Colorado Mental Health Planning and Advisory Council?

A. You can either apply with the Division of Mental Health for a position on the Council, or find out how to participate as an interested member of the public. The Council has made increased use of tele- and video-conferencing a main goal, and you may be able to participate in meetings without traveling to Denver.

Q. Will I get paid to be a member of the Council?

A. No, currently the Council does not provide stipends to its members. However, the Council, in partnership with the Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council and the Division of Mental Health, does reimburse most travel expenses.

Q. How do I get a copy of a report?

A. Most of the Division of Mental Health’s public reports are available on its website. You may contact the Division directly if you cannot find a specific report, or cannot access the website.

Q. Where is the Division located?

A. The Division of Mental Health is located on the campus of the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Fort Logan, 3824 West Princeton Circle, Denver, CO 80236. The Division is in Building 15, west of the intersection of Lowell Avenue and West Oxford Avenue. The closest major intersection is Federal Boulevard and West Oxford Avenue.

Q. What part of state government is the Division?

A. The Division of Mental Health is part of the Department of Human Services, which is in the executive branch of state government and is directed by the governor. The Division of Mental Health is within Behavioral Health Services in the Office of Behavioral Health and Housing in the Department.

Q. How do I find out if I qualify for public assistance programs, such as Medicaid?

A. Medicaid determination is usually made at your county department of social/human services. The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing is the state agency primarily responsible for Medicaid, including the mental health Medicaid program.

Q. What do I do if someone I know is considering suicide or might seriously hurt someone else?

A. If you believe someone is in immediate danger, you should dial 911. Otherwise, you can call your community mental health center or the state’s suicide hotline.

Q. What is a “mental health hold”?

A. Generally, the term “mental health hold” refers to the authority given in state law to certain law enforcement and trained professionals to take someone into custody that they reasonably believe may be a danger to themselves, others or is gravely disabled. You can contact the Division of Mental Health for more information.

Q. How do I get more information about a piece of legislation?

A. You can either contact the Division of Mental Health directly, or go to the Colorado General Assembly website.

Q. How do I find out if my child can qualify for residential services?

A. Generally, the determination for eligibility for residential services for children is made at your community mental health center. However, there are other ways that children qualify for residential mental health treatment, including through Medicaid and some county run programs. If your child has been evaluated for residential services by a center and found ineligible, you may contact the Division of Mental Health to appeal that decision.

 

Last Updated: 4/3/09

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