Mental Health Resources Available to Michigan Communities
Blues Perspectives
| 3 min read
Mental health resources are available to help individuals across Michigan who are suffering in the aftermath of the horrific tragedy that occurred February 13 at Michigan State University.
Free and confidential crisis counseling is available to MSU students in the coming days. Confidential, no-cost crisis counseling is also available for students at 1-517-355-8270, by pressing “1” at the prompt. The community mental health line is 1-517-346-8460. These lines are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is actively working with our provider partners to help provide crisis support for students, faculty and individuals in our communities in the days and weeks that will follow.
Blue Cross Virtual Well-Being℠ will host a conversation with behavioral health experts on Friday, February 17 1:00-2:00 p.m. discussing how to effectively manage your journey through trauma. Registration is available to the public here.
Blue Cross and Blue Care Network also have mental health resources available to our members. They are available now for immediate crisis assistance and will continue to be available in the future.
Blue Cross and BCN members
Find a behavioral health provider
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network can help members find an in-network mental health professional able to help with urgent needs by calling the numbers below:
- Blue Cross commercial members: Call New Directions® at 1-800-762-2382. Press 1 and ask to speak to a behavioral health clinician.
- Blue Care Network commercial members: Call Behavioral Health at 1-800-482-5982.
- BCN Advantage℠ members: Call Behavioral Health at 1-800-431-1059.
- Medicare Plus Blue℠ members: Call Behavioral Health at 1-888-803-4960.
Callers will be connected to someone who can schedule a visit. Not sure which plan you have? Check your Blue Cross ID card, or log in to your Blue Cross member account online at bcbsm.com.
Members can also visit bcbsm.com/mentalhealth to find sources of care and more information on mental health topics.
Virtual care
Virtual care visits for mental health are available for most Blue Cross and BCN members with Blue Cross Online Visits℠. Board-certified psychiatrists are available for a face-to-face, online visit from anywhere for adults and children.
Check your coverage before signing up, as costs may vary. Log in to your Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan account at bcbsm.com and search “online visits” from the What’s Covered tab.
An eight-week cognitive behavioral therapy program for members 18 and older for anxiety and depression is also available virtually through AbleTo. To schedule an appointment with an AbleTo therapist, go to ableto.com/bcbsm.
Blue Cross Complete members
Find a behavioral health provider
Members can use our Find a Doctor tool at mibluecrosscomplete.com/findadoctor to identify a behavioral health provider. Search by “Specialty” and type “Behavioral Health” into the search bar. Members can also select preferred languages spoken by provider.
Customer Service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-800-228-8554 (TTY users call 1-888-988-0071). Members can also call a network provider directly.
Telehealth
Blue Cross Complete members may be able to connect with a provider outside of the office through a phone or video call. Not all providers offer telehealth services. The MDLive® telehealth service offered by Blue Cross Complete does not provide behavioral health.
Transportation
To schedule a no-cost ride to a mental health appointment, Blue Cross Complete members can call the ride service at 1-888-803-4947. Rides should be scheduled two days in advance. Members can also visit mibluecrosscomplete.com/transportation to schedule a ride online.
Community Resources
Additional community resources are available, including:
- Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988
- Common Ground Resources and Crisis Helpline: 1-800-231-1127 (call or text)
- SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline:1-800-985-5990 or text “TalkWithUs” to 66746
- Michigan Crisis and Access Line (MiCAL) Michigan Peer Warmline: 1-888-733-7753
- Mentalhealth.gov for a variety of resources for people with mental illness, or those who care about them, including myths, facts and resources for having fruitful conversations.
Photo credit: Getty Images
