Disclaimer: These are general answers, each case is different and should be discussed with doctor.
Q: How can I navigate a mental health crisis?
A. Call Centre County Crisis: 1-800-643-5432 - The Crisis Counselors that answer can help you navigate the mental health crisis. Or dial 988.
Also, for more resources on crisis, please see NAMI’s (National Alliance on Mental Illness) guide
or visit the mentalhealth.gov website, or the https://findtreatment.gov website.
Q. I want to learn more about mental health in Centre County; where do I start?
A. A new Mental Health Services Guide has been released from Centre County in 2022. We highly recommend you read it, and suggest you look at our Find Services directory for service providers and additional information about resources available in the County.
Another way to search for services is from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSA)
page by typing in your zip code on their services locator page found at findtreatment.samhsa.gov .
Q. Where can I find resources about grief?
A. The Mental Health Services Guide has a listing of grief resources on page 51.
WPSU produces a website that "has tools that help you get better at grief." Visit speakinggrief.org and their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/wpsugrief .
Also visit https://www.griefconnection.org .
They have various support group links that discuss each group, and how to access it.
Also try https://tidesprogram.org .
Q. How do I stop feeling lonely?
A. A webpage on Psych Central, How to Stop Feeling Lonely, gives in-depth advice.
Q. I am looking for a listing of professional therapists in Centre County who specialize in helping resolve trauma.
A. You can find an extensive listing here.
Q. If I am a veteran, what resources are available to me?
A. Visit VA.gov to access and manage your VA benefits and health care.
For more veteran resources, please refer to pages 36 - 39 of the new Centre County 2022 Mental Health Services Guide, available here as a pdf download, or look at the list of veterans providers on our adult Find Services page.
Q. If I am a Penn State student what resources are available to me?
A. Penn State has a Red Folder which is a Penn State resource for students in need of help.
Also see Penn State's Counseling and Psychological Services page for more treatment options from Penn State.
Penn State also has a Student Care and Advocacy page. Student Care and Advocacy is a central location that coordinates efforts with campus partners to assist students who encounter challenges or concerns in achieving success at Penn State.
Q. Are you pregnant or did you recently have a baby? Are you raising a child under age 5? Are you a nursing mom?
You or someone you know may qualify for WIC! Many working families qualify!
The Pennsylvania Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children.
The Pennsylvania WIC program is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Visit them at www.pawic.com
Q. Are there video educational resources for mental health topics?
A. Jana Marie has a Candid Conversations video series that is a series of concise web videos created to serve as a quick reference for recognizing and addressing serious problems related to childrens' mental, emotional, and physical health. Each topic is addressed in a collection of six to eight short easy-to-access video clips featuring subject matter experts who share information, tips, and additional resources. You can view these videos here.
NAMI also has a library of videos on a wide variety of mental health topics.
Q. What is new science regarding mental health?
A. The website Science Daily has mental health news.
Q. What resources are available regarding homelessness?
A. Please see the Housing Services in Centre County page.
General Questions.
Q. What is a psychiatrist and a therapist?
A. A psychiatrist is a doctor who specializes in treating mental health disorders and can prescribe medications for it. A therapist is a licensed professional who can help you with talk therapy as a part of your treatment plan.
Q. What You Need to Know About Prodromal Schizophrenia
A. Prodromal schizophrenia is the earliest stage of brain degeneration, though not everyone exhibits the same symptoms. During this phase, people begin experiencing pre-psychotic mild or moderate changes in perceptions and behavior, but don't yet have delusions and more serious difficulties. See this page for more information.
Q. What is a delusion?
A. There are several types of delusions. A website that gives a list of the types of delusions is here.
Q. What is a BCM (Blended Case Manager)
A. A BCM is someone who can help with your goals and find services in the community for your needs.
The County has a BCM program and so do a few other providers.
See the new year 2022 Mental Health Services guide from the County for more about case management programs.
The guide is available on our Resources page.
Q. How do I find what services are right for me?
A. Asking the County for help with this question is a good idea, along with other mental health professionals. Questions about supported living can also be answered, and government assisted programs for your needs.
Q. What is a provider? A consumer?
A. A provider is an individual or group who provides consumers (people in treatment) a mental health service.
Q. What is psychiatric rehabilitation?
A. Psychiatric rehabilitation promotes recovery, community integration, and improved quality of life for those experiencing a mental health disorder.
Q. How common is mental illness? Are there community activities for people with a diagnosis?
A. Mental illness is common, and you are not alone. The average for say Schizophrenia is about 1%. However, including other mental illness, the average for mental illness is nearly 1 in 5 adults, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. For community activities see our listing for outpatient programs under Find Services.
These services can help you with your goals while managing an illness once diagnosed.
Q. What privacy laws are in place to help me?
A. Currently there are laws to limit disclosure of a patient’s diagnosis. You may be asked to fill out forms from your providers so they can contact other agencies to set up additional services, like therapy.
Q: How can I navigate a mental health crisis?
A. Call Centre County Crisis: 1-800-643-5432 - The Crisis Counselors that answer can help you navigate the mental health crisis. Or dial 988.
Also, for more resources on crisis, please see NAMI’s (National Alliance on Mental Illness) guide
or visit the mentalhealth.gov website, or the https://findtreatment.gov website.
Q. I want to learn more about mental health in Centre County; where do I start?
A. A new Mental Health Services Guide has been released from Centre County in 2022. We highly recommend you read it, and suggest you look at our Find Services directory for service providers and additional information about resources available in the County.
Another way to search for services is from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSA)
page by typing in your zip code on their services locator page found at findtreatment.samhsa.gov .
Q. Where can I find resources about grief?
A. The Mental Health Services Guide has a listing of grief resources on page 51.
WPSU produces a website that "has tools that help you get better at grief." Visit speakinggrief.org and their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/wpsugrief .
Also visit https://www.griefconnection.org .
They have various support group links that discuss each group, and how to access it.
Also try https://tidesprogram.org .
Q. How do I stop feeling lonely?
A. A webpage on Psych Central, How to Stop Feeling Lonely, gives in-depth advice.
Q. I am looking for a listing of professional therapists in Centre County who specialize in helping resolve trauma.
A. You can find an extensive listing here.
Q. If I am a veteran, what resources are available to me?
A. Visit VA.gov to access and manage your VA benefits and health care.
For more veteran resources, please refer to pages 36 - 39 of the new Centre County 2022 Mental Health Services Guide, available here as a pdf download, or look at the list of veterans providers on our adult Find Services page.
Q. If I am a Penn State student what resources are available to me?
A. Penn State has a Red Folder which is a Penn State resource for students in need of help.
Also see Penn State's Counseling and Psychological Services page for more treatment options from Penn State.
Penn State also has a Student Care and Advocacy page. Student Care and Advocacy is a central location that coordinates efforts with campus partners to assist students who encounter challenges or concerns in achieving success at Penn State.
Q. Are you pregnant or did you recently have a baby? Are you raising a child under age 5? Are you a nursing mom?
You or someone you know may qualify for WIC! Many working families qualify!
The Pennsylvania Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children.
The Pennsylvania WIC program is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Visit them at www.pawic.com
Q. Are there video educational resources for mental health topics?
A. Jana Marie has a Candid Conversations video series that is a series of concise web videos created to serve as a quick reference for recognizing and addressing serious problems related to childrens' mental, emotional, and physical health. Each topic is addressed in a collection of six to eight short easy-to-access video clips featuring subject matter experts who share information, tips, and additional resources. You can view these videos here.
NAMI also has a library of videos on a wide variety of mental health topics.
Q. What is new science regarding mental health?
A. The website Science Daily has mental health news.
Q. What resources are available regarding homelessness?
A. Please see the Housing Services in Centre County page.
General Questions.
Q. What is a psychiatrist and a therapist?
A. A psychiatrist is a doctor who specializes in treating mental health disorders and can prescribe medications for it. A therapist is a licensed professional who can help you with talk therapy as a part of your treatment plan.
Q. What You Need to Know About Prodromal Schizophrenia
A. Prodromal schizophrenia is the earliest stage of brain degeneration, though not everyone exhibits the same symptoms. During this phase, people begin experiencing pre-psychotic mild or moderate changes in perceptions and behavior, but don't yet have delusions and more serious difficulties. See this page for more information.
Q. What is a delusion?
A. There are several types of delusions. A website that gives a list of the types of delusions is here.
Q. What is a BCM (Blended Case Manager)
A. A BCM is someone who can help with your goals and find services in the community for your needs.
The County has a BCM program and so do a few other providers.
See the new year 2022 Mental Health Services guide from the County for more about case management programs.
The guide is available on our Resources page.
Q. How do I find what services are right for me?
A. Asking the County for help with this question is a good idea, along with other mental health professionals. Questions about supported living can also be answered, and government assisted programs for your needs.
Q. What is a provider? A consumer?
A. A provider is an individual or group who provides consumers (people in treatment) a mental health service.
Q. What is psychiatric rehabilitation?
A. Psychiatric rehabilitation promotes recovery, community integration, and improved quality of life for those experiencing a mental health disorder.
Q. How common is mental illness? Are there community activities for people with a diagnosis?
A. Mental illness is common, and you are not alone. The average for say Schizophrenia is about 1%. However, including other mental illness, the average for mental illness is nearly 1 in 5 adults, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. For community activities see our listing for outpatient programs under Find Services.
These services can help you with your goals while managing an illness once diagnosed.
Q. What privacy laws are in place to help me?
A. Currently there are laws to limit disclosure of a patient’s diagnosis. You may be asked to fill out forms from your providers so they can contact other agencies to set up additional services, like therapy.