Accessing Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities or Substance Abuse Services

You can call Western Highlands Network Access Unit if you are looking for help with a Mental Health, Developmental Disability or Substance Abuse worry, or if you are the parent or guardian of someone that needs help.

You can start by calling Western Highlands Network Access Unit at:

(828) 225-2800 in Buncombe County

or toll free at 1-(800)951-3792

When you call the Access unit, a qualified professional will ask you questions about yourself or the person you are responsible for.

These are the types of questions you should be ready to answer.

“What is the reason you called today?”

“What kind of things are bothering you or the person you are calling for today, and in the past?”

“Have you ever been given a Mental Health, Developmental Disability or Substance Abuse diagnosis?”

“Are you worried about hurting yourself? Hurting someone else?”

“What is your name? Where do you live? Date of Birth? Do you have Medicaid or other insurance now?

Are you uninsured?

After you have had your screening and if you are eligible for services, you or your parent or guardian will have a choice of providers to meet with that will best fit your needs. This is based on information you gave during the screening process and your own preference.

The information you gave to the Access staff is then faxed to the provider you chose.

You will then be given a date and time for an appointment.

The Access Unit makes referrals to and for providers. The provider you choose will help you develop a plan and provide services that meet your needs.

If you want to, you can go to a provider of your choice and make an appointment for an assessment. The Western Highlands Network website, www.westernhighlands.org has a list of provider agencies in your county that you may contact on your own if this is your choice.

If you were seeing a provider in the past, and have called the Access department to help you get services, let them know who your provider was. You can choose to go back to that provider, or choose a different provider.

The next step is up to you!

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