Washington DC Mental Health

As one might expect from the United States capitol city, Washington DC is comprehensive in its range of mental health services in both the public and private sectors. A full complement of services is available for children and adults, civilians and military personnel, whether temporary or permanent residents of our nation’s capitol.

The Washington DC Department of Mental Health

The Washington DC Department of Mental Health (DMH) maintains a vast network of services that both protects the city’s residents and assists those who have mental disorders.

To find specific information about the vast range of services and programs offered by the DMH, the department also operates the Access Help Line (1-888-7WE-HELP), which is open 24 hours, seven days a week. In addition, Project DC (202-671-2977) is a help line for those still coping with the trauma of the September 11 terrorist attacks and anthrax related deaths. Project DC also provides residents with information on how to prepare for emergencies, crises, and natural disasters.

Adult Forensics –The DMH provides both pretrial evaluations and post–trial mental health services for those referred through the city’s criminal justice system. Patients are treated at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital.
Child and Family Therapy Services – Three centers located in northeast, northwest, and southeast Washington DC provide services for children between the ages of five and 18 years old and their families as well as a comprehensive range of outpatient mental health services for adults. Both scheduled appointments and walk-ins are accepted and all fees are determined according to financial ability. The Northeast (35 K Street) and Southeast (St. Elizabeth’s Hospital Campus) centers offer:

- Individual therapy
- Family therapy
- Play therapy
- Group therapy
- Intensive case management
- Medication

In child and family therapy services, the Northwest center (North Community Mental Health Center) specializes in treating emotional and/or behavioral problems in children ages five to seventeen.

The Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program – The CPEP provides 24/7 onsite emergency psychiatric evaluations for adults in crisis. Mobile crisis services are available for residents of all ages. The CPEP building at DC General has beds available for those needing observation. Fees for CPEP services are also on a sliding scale.
Educational Services – The DMH provides full-time mental health professionals and school based mental health services to Washington DC public schools. It also offers free therapy and treatment at three special education centers:

- The Paul Robeson School
- The Rose School
- The Jackie Robinson Center

Washington DC Hospitals

The Children's National Medical Center –The Center for Neuroscience and Behavioral Medicine at Children's specializes in care and treatment for children with epilepsy, neuro-genetic disease, neuro–muscular diseases, autism and related disorders, neuro-cognitive disorders such as ADHD, childhood mood disorders, headaches, Tourettes, and other movement disorders, and spasticity.
Georgetown University Medical Center is the largest and most prominent Catholic medical center in the country. Its Department of Psychiatry provides both inpatient and partial hospitalization care. The Outpatient Department specializes in services for those with Mood Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Eating Disorders, Psychosomatic Medicine, Psychopharmacology, Psycho-oncology, Transplant Psychiatry, Geriatric Psychiatry, and Child/Adolescent Psychiatry. Nationally recognized research studies include mental health services for low–income populations, trauma/PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder), psychotherapy, schizophrenia, adolescent substance abuse, and cross-cultural psychiatry.
Howard University Hospital – Howard University Hospital Department of Psychiatry provides both inpatient and outpatient settings for diagnostic and treatment services for the severely mentally ill and those with life issues, treatment of the deaf and mentally challenged, and the diagnosis and treatment of addictive disorders.
National Rehabilitation Hospital – Although the NRH doesn’t specialize in mental disorders, it does offer comprehensive, inpatient specialty programs for individuals with stroke and brain injury.

The Stroke Recovery Program emphasizes functional independence and prevention of recurrent strokes and along with physical recovery issues addresses mental health issues associated with communication, cognitive skills, social skills, and psychological and family life concerns.

The Brain Injury Rehabilitation Program is designed for persons ages 16 and older who have a head injury or other non–progressive brain injury or disease. Along with physical recovery, this program also addresses such issues as behavioral management, neuropsychological adaptation, environmental structuring, cognitive and communication skills, daily living and social skills, self-care, academic/vocational reintegration, and substance abuse intervention.

The Psychiatric Institute of Washington Psychiatric hospital – PIW is a short-term, acute care hospital, which provides services for a wide variety of psychiatric and addictive problems. It provides comprehensive behavioral healthcare for all individuals, from children to Seniors, who suffer from emotional and addictive illnesses. Services include inpatient, outpatient, partial hospitalization, 23-hour crisis observation, and specialized treatment programs for chemical dependency.
Walter Reed Army Medical Center– The Walter Reed Health Care System provides comprehensive health care in all areas of physical and mental health for the more than 150,000 soldiers, other service members, family members and retirees in the National Capital Area.
Washington Hospital Center – Behavioral Health Services at Washington Hospital Center, a not-for-profit hospital, serves the Washington DC area with the highest quality mental health and substance abuse treatment for its residents, including:

- Inpatient Psychiatric Services
- Psychiatric Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
- Chemical Dependency Intensive Outpatient Program (CDIOP)
- Specialty CSA Services –– Intensive Day Treatment and Day Services

See Also:

Washington DC Mental Health Clinics