(815) 464-1832
Mon - Thurs: 9:00am - 5:00pm | Fri: 9:00am - 4:00pm
Illinois Life Span Program

Mental Health Resources in Illinois

Last Updated September 2023

This Fact Sheet is available for download in the following languages:

EMERGENCY MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES

  • CALL 988 – suicide prevention hotline
  • CALL 911
  • CALL CARES CRISIS LINE: 1-800-345-9049 (Voice), 1-773-523-4504 (TTY). Crisis and Referral Entry Services (CARES) available 24/7 to assist people in Illinois who are a risk to themselves or others due to a mental health crisis. HFS Crisis Services page
  • NOTE: As of 2025, we recommend accessing children’s mental and behavioral health services through the state‘s BEACON portal, which allows access to ALL resources in the state. Pathways to Success: State program for children/teens up to age 21, enrolled in Medicaid, with a serious emotional disturbance or serious mental illness requiring intensive home-based supports. Standardized behavioral health screening and referral provided by primary care providers (PCPs), and if child/teen is eligible, state plan services may include care coordination and support, including Mobile Crisis Response, high fidelity wraparound services, intensive home-based services, family peer support, respite, therapeutic monitoring and individual support services: https://hfs.illinois.gov/medicalproviders/behavioral/pathways.html
  • Call 211 if you need assistance locating long-term mental health resources, talking through a problem, or exploring mental health treatment options.

Private Health Insurance: employment, Marketplace, private purchase, other such as TRICARE

WhoWhatContact
Your private health insurance planAccess to in network mental health professionalsSee Insurance card phone # for mental/behavioral health
Illinois Dept. of InsuranceAccess to Care and Navigating your Network Info; Assistance with insurance complaintsDOI.Complaints@Illinois.gov Toll-free: 877-527-9431
Illinois Attorney General Health Care BureauFree help to resolve private health insurance problemsHealth Care Hotline: 877-305-5145;
Fill out our Health Care Complaint Form

Medicaid: Some individuals have Medicaid FFS (fee-for-service) when they also have private health insurance, known as Third Party Liability (TPL); most are enrolled in a Medicaid Managed Care org

WhoWhatContact
Health Benefits HotlineQuestions about FFS Medicaid, including list of providers1-800-226-0768
IL HealthChoice Medicaid Managed Care organizations (MCOs)Number for list of providers in network; ask for care coordinator; request written copy of Member Benefits Handbook, including mental health benefits coverageContact Health Plans for Members; Blue Cross/Blue Shield: 877-860-2837; Aetna Better Health: 866-329-4701; Molina: 855-687-7861; Meridian: 866-606-3700; Youth in Care: 844-289-2264; County Care: 312-864-8200
Grievance/appeals: https://enrollhfs.illinois.gov/content/dam/digital/united-states/illinois/il-eb/pdf/english/MCOGrievanceAndAppealsProcess.pdf
Community Mental Health providersFor a range of services including mental health case management, transition linkage and aftercare, assertive community treatment and psychosocial rehabilitationCall 1-833-234-6343 or use the DHS Office locator to find a Community Mental Health Center near you: https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?module=12 -choose “Mental Health” in drop-down menu, add County and zip if in Cook Co. list of services:
www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=32490
Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC)If enrolled as a primary care patient, can access behavioral health services, including psychiatryfindahealthcenter.hrsa.gov
Return to Fact Sheet Library