Behavioral Health
If you are experiencing a behavioral health crisis and need urgent support:
- Call 988 for the mental health crisis line
- Crisis and Referral Entry Services (CARES) & Screening, Assessment and Support Services (SASS) at 1-800-345-9049 for youth and adults with Medicaid in crisis and in need of a mental health assessment
- Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a volunteer Crisis Counselor
- Trans Lifeline: 1-877-565-8860
- Find your local National Alliance to Mental Illness (NAMI) near you
We are here to support you and your well-being. This includes the emotions and behaviors that affect your overall health or your behavioral health.
What is Behavioral Health?
Services that offer emotional support, treatment, counseling and guidance. Meridian covers inpatient hospital psychiatric services, outpatient partial hospitalization services (PHP) and intensive outpatient services (IOP). Meridian also covers community and outpatient services in partnership with DHS Mental Health Rehab Option Services. Click here to view a list of covered services:
Here at Meridian we offer specialized care coordination services to meet your needs:
- Behavioral Health
- Special Needs Children
- Suicide Prevention
- Substance Use and Abuse
- Utilities, food, and housing aid
- Alcohol or drug treatment
- Detoxification services at a free-standing facility (ASAM level 3.7)
- Residential substance use disorder treatment (ASAM 3.5)
- Detoxification outpatient services
- Adaptive Behavior Support (ABS) services for those under the age of 21 diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder
- Care during a hospital stay
- Community-based behavioral health services
- Crisis services
- Day treatment at a hospital
- Intensive outpatient program
- Medication-assisted treatment
- Outpatient services
- medication management
- therapy
- counseling
- Residential treatment of substance abuse
- Hypnotherapy
- Biofeedback
- Experimental procedures or non-drug therapies
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
Are you a provider looking for information? Click here.
Meridian has a specialized team of care coordinators. They are committed to ensuring access to healthcare services. Our goal is to help with your mental health needs. We offer Health Risk Assessents, Care Plans, and help with locating resources. Call us today to enroll with a behavioral health care coordinator. They will make a plan of care to meet your needs. And they will work with you on a monthly basis. The goal is to make sure you are getting the right level of care for your needs. This can include a face-to-face visit with your health plan.
- Behavioral Health Case Management Team
There are some great programs within our care coordination team. See below to learn more.
Care Coordination
We have a team who focuses on mental healthcare needs. They will develop a thorough plan of care to meet your needs. This includes locating providers, resources, scheduling appointments and more.
On February 1, 2020, the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) moved all children with special needs into managed care. The Special Needs Children (SNC) program promotes achieving the best health outcomes and decreasing care gaps.
This population includes:
- Children receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Children enrolled in the Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) Core Program
- Children with a physical disability category
A program for Medicaid enrolled children under the age of 21 in Illinois who have complex behavioral health care needs and could benefit from intensive home and community based services. These services may involve:
- Family Peer Support
- Intensive Home-Based Therapy
- Respite
- Therapeutic Mentoring
- Therapeutic Support Services
- Personal Support Services
After using the CARES line, a behavioral health care coordinator will follow up with you. This will be within thirty days of the crisis event.
Here at Meridian our care coordination teams are trained to support those at risk for suicide. Every day we are working to prevent suicide. Through technology, we connect members at risk before a crisis occurs. If you or someone you know may be at risk for suicide, call us at: 866-606-3700 (TTY: 711). Or use hot line services.
In need of a physical change? Meridian covers benefits for substance use. This can be:
- residential treatment,
- detox services,
- partial-hospitalization programs (PHP)
A care coordination program aiming to help people diagnosed with depression. This program combines:
- medication support,
- diagnosis education
- community connections
- resources to help people live life to the fullest
Are you or someone you love struggling with drugs or alcohol? Could you use support in the next step on your road to recovery? Our care coordinators are trained to help our members with substance use issues.
Call Meridian Member Services today to be connected to a care coordinator: 866-606-3700 (TTY: 711).
Our care coordinators may refer members the HALO (Health Assistance, Linkage, and Outreach) Program™. HALO is a care management program for members. It addresses prevention, treatment, recovery, and specialized services. The program:
- Helps identify members at risk of or currently using substances excessively.
- Works with members to treat or avoid substance use disorder (SUD).
- Offers different treatment plans. These can include members’ providers, family members, pharmacists, and others who can help.
Different levels of care and services can be provided depending on the SUD.
There are also community resources available to you. Please see the links below for more information.
- Alcoholics Anonymous
- Al-Anon Family Groups
- Dual Recovery Anonymous
- Medication Assisted Recovery (MAR Now)
- Narcotics Anonymous
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) on Opioid Overdose
- SAMHSA Recovery and Recovery Support
- SAMHSA Substance Abuse and Mental Health Prevention
- Self Management and Recovery Training (SMART Recovery)
If you or a loved one need immediate help with mental health or addiction:
- Call 911
- Or go to the nearest emergency room
Feeling sad, overwhelmed, irritable, or withdrawn? Have you felt like this for more than two weeks? You may have depression, a common illness that negatively affects the way you feel. Depression is treatable, so it is important to contact your healthcare provider.
To check if you may be depressed, use the screener tool below.
Depression Screener
This self-screening tool has been medically approved.
Below is a list of symptoms of depression. Think about how you are feeling today. Do you have any of the symptoms?
If you identify with five or more symptoms, you may be depressed. Please discuss these results with your primary care provider as soon as possible. If you need a provider, we can help.
Use our Find a Provider tool. Or contact our Member Services team at 866-606-3700 (TTY: 711).
Are you experiencing any of the following symptoms:
- Little interest or pleasure in doing things
- Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless
- Trouble falling or staying asleep, or sleeping too much
- Feeling tired or having little energy
- Poor appetite or overeating
- Feeling bad about yourself — or that you are a failure or have let yourself or your family down
- Trouble focusing on things, such as reading the newspaper or watching television
- Moving or speaking so slowly that other people have noticed. Or the opposite — being so fidgety or restless that you have been moving around a lot more than usual
- Thoughts that you would be better off dead or of hurting yourself in some way
Disclaimer: By using this screener, you acknowledge that it is not a diagnostic instrument and is only to be used as a resource. You are encouraged to share your results with a healthcare provider.
Here at Meridian we believe in treating the whole person. If you are in need of general community resources, check out the list below!
- Autism Resources
- Cash, SNAP (Food Stamps) & Medical Assistance
- Child Care
- Domestic Violence
- Early Intervention
- Findhelp
- Homeless Prevention
- Income Qualified Assistance
- Job Training
- Living Room Program
- Mental Health Treatment Information
- Rental Housing Resources
- Supportive Housing
- Utility Bill Assistance
If you need help with specific resources, reach out to a care manager. Please call 866-606-3700 and ask for a behavioral health case manager today!
Every quarter our members are invited to participate in our Family Leadership Council (FLC). This group consists of youth, parents, and community partners along with Meridian care staff. They address concerns and find ways to improve children’s behavioral health and special care needs.
Members who attend meetings will receive a $50 gift card for their participation. Visit our member events calendar to find and register for upcoming FLC meetings.
The FLC is a chance for members to:
- Connect with other familes
- Learn about helpful community resources and events
- Share experiences
- Find ways to improve children’s behavioral health services
- Discuss improvements for services for children with special needs
Communicate with FLC leaders by emailing FamilyLeadership@mhplan.com.
Don’t see what you are looking for? Call Meridian Member Services today to be connected to a care coordinator: 866-606-3700 (TTY: 711).
Meridian’s network includes over 26,000 behavioral health providers. Some including Brave Health, Chestnut Health Systems, Rosecrance, and Thresholds offer virtual care – through your cell phone, tablet, or computer. Therapy, psychiatry, and medication management are available for:
- People who are anxious or depressed
- Women who are pregnant or going through postpartum depression
- People diagnosed with mental illness
- Family relationships
- Older adults with health issues
Support for Teens
Pyx Health connects teens to the right help at the right time. Via a mobile app, trained staff provide relatable, positive support. They help teens manage the stress of things like school, relationships, and social media. You can feel confident knowing your teen will get safe access to the care that meets their needs. With the program, your teen can:
- Talk or direct message with trained, caring humans
- Access resources like LGBTQ+ support, life skills, and more
- Get services like counseling and crisis lines
- Find activities for bullying, self-image, emotions, and more
Everyone can use extra support. Ready to get started?
Guardians of teens and teens with guardian consent: Download the app now and sign up with your teen’s health plan ID. Or call Pyx Health’s friendly team at 855-499-4777.
Do not see what you are looking for? Call us today! We will link you with a care coordinator!
