Behavioral Health Toolkit

Awareness: Only 11 percent of Americans with a substance use disorder and 40 percent of those with a mental illness receive treatment for their condition. Many individuals go without treatment in part because their disorders go undiagnosed. Regular screenings in primary care and other health care settings enable earlier identification of mental health and substance use disorders. Earlier diagnosis leads to earlier care. More information: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) (2014): Substance Use and Mental Health Estimates from the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Overview of Findings.

Access: The goal of this website is to assist health care providers in identifying mental health and substance use conditions and facilitate access to services. It contains training and technical assistance on integrating primary and behavioral health; resources on how to screen for behavioral health conditions; linkages to treatment; and support that address mental health and substance use issues affecting children, adolescents and adults.

Your opinion is important. Please give us your feedback about this website. The resources and links provided on this web page are informational only. The Behavioral Health Toolkit does not provide a comprehensive list nor an endorsement of the resources listed.



Behavioral Health Guidance for COVID-19 – MDH

To address the increasing number of calls to the Warmline, Anne Arundel County is using federal CARES Act funds to launch the COVID Recovery and Grief Support Program. This program will provide additional funding to expand mental health and grief counseling services for survivors and families who have suffered devastating loss from COVID. If you are in need of emotional support, contact the Warmline at 410-768-5522.


Training and Technical Assistance

Bright Futures initiative considers the mental health of children in a developmental context; presents information on early recognition and intervention for specific mental health problems and mental disorders; and provides a toolkit with hands-on tools for health professionals and families for use in screening, care management and health education.

Health Resources and Services Administration

SAMSHA – HRSA Center for Integrated Health Solutions (CIHS) promotes the development of integrated primary and behavioral health services to better address the needs of individuals with mental health and substance use conditions, whether seen in behavioral health or primary care provider settings.

Screening Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) is an evidence-based approach to addressing unhealthy alcohol and drug use. Most individuals who misuse alcohol and drugs are unlikely to seek specialty treatment, but many individuals are seen in primary care medical settings. Below are programs that provide training in this method:

No Wrong Door Integrative Screen training helps to equip health care staff to understand and incorporate integrative screening practices within their settings. In this training, participants learn how to screen for a variety of health risks (i.e., physical health, mental health, substance use, sexual risk behaviors and infectious disease risk/testing).

Substance Use Disorders in Adolescents: Screening and Engagement in Primary Care Settings has online trainings and videos used to enhance health care communication skills specific to adolescent drug use behaviors.

Consultation

Maryland Behavioral Health Integration in Pediatric Primary Care (B-HIPP) is a free service that supports the efforts of primary care providers to assess and manage the mental health needs of their patients from infancy through young adulthood. Offers telephone consultation and additional screening tools.

Clinical Consultation Center and Substance Abuse Warm Line offers free and confidential clinician-to-clinician telephone consultation focusing on substance use evaluation and management for primary care clinicians through the Substance Use Warmline at 1-855-300-3595. Consultation is available Monday through Friday, between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. EST, from addiction medicine-certified physicians, clinical pharmacists, and nurses with special expertise in pharmacotherapy options for opioid use. Voice mail is available 24-hours a day.


Tools to screen for behavioral, mental health and substance use disorders. These tools are to be used with a licensed professional. Consult a doctor or other health care professional for diagnosis and treatment of a behavioral condition.

Co-Occurring Screens - Screen for both substance use and mental health disorders.

ACES-Adverse Childhood Experience Questionnaire Children, Adolescent and Adults

DSM 5 Cross Cutting Symptom Measures is a self- or informant-rated measure that assesses mental health domains that are important across psychiatric diagnoses. It is intended to help clinicians identify additional areas of inquiry that may have significant impact on the individual’s treatment and prognosis. Children, Adolescent and Adults

SBIRT OREGON – Screens for adults and adolescents for substance abuse and mental health. Adults and Adolescents

Mental Health Screens

Center for Epidemiological Studies (Bright Futures) Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC) 
20-item self-report depression inventory with possible scores ranging from 0 to 60. Children and Adolescents

Columbia Lighthouse Project 
The Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) is the most evidence-supported tool of its kind and a simple series of questions that anyone can use anywhere in the world to prevent suicide. Children, Adolescent and Adults

Geriatric Depression Scale 
Tool that measures depression which has been tested and used extensively with the older population.

Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale 
Tool to assist in identifying possible symptoms of depression in the postnatal period.

Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) 9 
Nine item self-report tool to assess depressed mood in the past two weeks. Ages 13 – 17, as well as adults

Suicide- SAFE-T 
Assists clinicians in conducting a suicide assessment using a 5-step evaluation and triage plan to identify risk factors and protective factors; conduct a suicide inquiry; determine risk level and potential interventions; and document a treatment plan. Children, Adolescent and Adults

Substance Use Screens

Alcohol and Drugs-CAGE-AID 
The CAGE-AID is a version of the CAGE alcohol screening questionnaire, adapted to include drug use. It assesses likelihood and severity of alcohol and drug abuse. Adults and Adolescents National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Drug Screening Tool

This tool guides clinicians through a series of questions to identify risky substance use in their adult patients. 18 and older

AUDIT-C 
Three item alcohol screen that can help identify a person who is a hazardous drinker or has active alcohol use disorders (including alcohol abuse or dependence.) 18 and older

The Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-10) 
Ten item brief screening tool that can be administered by a clinician or self-administered. Each question requires a yes or no response, and the tool can be completed in less than 8 minutes. This tool assesses drug use, not including alcohol or tobacco use, in the past 12 months. 18 and older

CRAFFT 
Developed to screen adolescents for high risk alcohol and other drug use disorders simultaneously. It is a short, effective screening tool meant to assess whether a longer conversation about the context of use, frequency and other risks and consequences of alcohol and other drug use is warranted. Children and Adolescents


Call 911 for immediate assistance in any emergency.

The following resources provide assistance for people experiencing mental health and substance abuse emergencies and other life crises.

Hotlines

  • Community Warm Line/Crisis Response: 410-768-5522 
    24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Response system provides Anne Arundel County residents in crisis with supportive assistance and linkages to community resources.
  • Safe Stations 
    At any time of day or night, any Annapolis or Anne Arundel County resident can go to any Annapolis or Anne Arundel County fire or police station to get help from addiction. The individual will be assisted in obtaining the necessary treatment resources. Safe Stations program works in close partnership with the Anne Arundel County Crisis Response Team.
  • Baltimore Crisis Response Inc.: 410-433-5175 
    Emergency line provides information and referrals to the Baltimore Metropolitan Area network of services that include mental health crisis intervention, suicide crisis intervention, shelter assistance and adolescence crisis intervention.
  • Maryland’s HelplineMaryland’s Helpline is available 24/7 to provide support, guidance, and assistance. Please call 211 and select option 1, text your zip code 898-211, or visit 211MD.org
  • Maryland Youth Crisis Hotline: 1-800-422-0009 
    Provides a 24-hour toll-free hotline designed to meet the needs of troubled youth in crisis. MYCH is the first decentralized hotline in the country and serves as a primary intervention resource.
  • National Suicide Prevention Hotline (The Lifeline): 988 
    Provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress and their family and friends. Provides prevention and crisis resources and best practices for professionals.
  • Crisis Text Line: Text “GO” to 741741 
    Crisis Text Line is free 24/7 support for those in crisis. From anywhere in the United States, an individual can text confidentially with a trained crisis counselor.

Detox and Treatment (Inpatient) for Substance Use

  • Bayview Medical Center 
    Adult Acute Psychiatric Unit – 410-550-0069 – The Acute Psychiatric Unit offers inpatient detoxification, assessment and transition services to individuals suffering from comorbid substance abuse and psychiatric illnesses. 
    Chemical Dependency Unit – 410-550-1910 – The CDU specializes in inpatient medical detox of adult patients addicted to alcohol or drugs. The unit has an experienced team of professionals dedicated to the treatment of substance use disorders.
  • Hope House
  • University of Maryland Medical Center 
    Inpatient Chemical Dependency Services – 410-225-8626 – Offers quality inpatient treatment to adults aged 18 and older who are in need of detoxification for drug and alcohol dependency.
  • Johns Hopkins 
    Intensive Treatment Unit – 410-614-4677 – The ITU is a six-bed adult inpatient unit which specializes in rapid (2-4 day) detoxification, psychiatric stabilization and substance abuse rehabilitation of patients with addiction/dependence complicating other mental health problems.
  • Pathways
  • Tuerk House
  • University of Maryland Midtown Campus

Hospitals

  • Anne Arundel Medical Center. Regional health system with headquarters in Annapolis that includes a not-for-profit hospital, a medical group, a substance abuse treatment center and other medical enterprises. For drug addiction and treatment services: 410-573-5400.
  • Baltimore Washington Medical Center. A member of the University of Maryland Medical System with services that include emergency care, psychiatric care and pediatric care. 
    For emergency services: 410-787-4306 
    Behavioral Health Support Group: 410-787-8096
  • Sheppard Pratt. Services for people who have an urgent and critical need to be evaluated by a psychiatrist on an immediate basis. For services: 410-938-HELP (4357), Monday – Friday, 8:15 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Treatment Referrals, Resource Information and Locators 
These organizations and programs connect adults and youth to mental health and substance abuse treatment.

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY

  • Addiction Resource Guide lists treatment providers throughout the county that provide the necessary services to help citizens suffering from addiction. Along with the name of each provider, the guide lists contact information for the organization, as well as a list of treatment services offered. The guide is authored and updated by the County Executive’s Office of Constituent Services.
  • Anne Arundel Department of Health Adolescent and Family Services – 410-222-6785 – Provides behavioral health services to children and their families including both mental health and addictions treatment.
  • Anne Arundel Department of Health Substance Abuse Referral Line – 410-222-0117 – Anne Arundel County has a network of substance abuse treatment providers who participate with the Department of Health in offering treatment services at various locations countywide. Different levels of treatment are available including early intervention groups, outpatient clinic care and more intensive treatment for drug and alcohol addiction.
  • Core Service Agency/Anne Arundel County Mental Health Agency – 410-222-7858 – Helps to ensure that Medicaid recipients and other low-income, non-insured county residents, who meet certain criteria, have access to a wide range of quality mental health services.
  • Network of Care – Provides simple and fast access to information about behavioral health services, laws and related news, as well as communication tools and other features for people with mental illness, caregivers and service providers.
  • Warmline/Crisis Response – 410-768-5522 – Provides Anne Arundel County residents in crisis with supportive assistance and linkages to resources within the community 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

MARYLAND

  • Maryland Community Service Locator (2-1-1 Maryland) – Find approximately 9,000 health, social service and criminal justice resource programs in Maryland using this tool.

NATIONAL

  • SAMHSA Behavioral Health Treatment Locator – Online source of information for people seeking treatment facilities in the United States or U.S. Territories for substance abuse/addiction or mental health problems.

These are services for adults and adolescents that reinforce the gains made in treatment. They include mutual help groups, peer recovery support programs, clubhouses and classes.

Mental Health

  • Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA). Meeting locator for DBSA, which offers information on depression and bipolar disorder as well as listings to patient support groups across the United States.
  • On Our Own. Statewide mental health consumer education and advocacy group. On Our Own promotes equality in all aspects of society for people who receive mental health services and develops alternative, recovery-based mental health initiatives.

Substance Use

  • Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Annapolis Intergroup – Meeting locator for AA, which offers 24 hour hotline 410-268-5441 for those seeking help for a drinking problem. AA is an international fellowship of men and women who have had a drinking problem. It is nonprofessional, self-supporting, multiracial, apolitical and available almost everywhere. There are no age or education requirements. Membership is open to anyone who wants to do something about his or her drinking problem.
  • Anne Arundel County Department of Health’s Recovery Support Services Program. 410-222-7076. Works with clients in substance abuse treatment to obtain the resources and skills they need to transition successfully from treatment to sustained recovery.
  • Celebrate Recovery. – Christ-centered recovery support group.
  • Chemical Dependency Anonymous (CDA) – Meeting locator for CDA, a 12-stepprogram of recovery from all chemical addictions: alcohol rehab, drug rehab, prescription drug dependence.
  • Codependency Anonymous (CoDA) – Meeting locator for CoDA, fellowship of men and women whose common purpose is to develop healthy relationships.
  • H20 4 L.I.F.E. – Adolescent recovery clubhouse serving youth ages 12 to 17 that promotes healthy, substance-free lifestyles.
  • Narcotics Anonymous (NA) – Meeting locator for NA, the nonprofit fellowship or society of men and women for whom drugs had become a major problem
  • SMART Recovery – Meeting locator for SMART Recovery, a recovery support group in which participants learn tools for addiction recovery based on the latest scientific research.
  • Women for Sobriety Inc. – The first national self-help program dedicated to helping women overcome alcoholism and other addictions.

The following programs provide families with support for challenges that include mental health, parenting, separation/divorce and substance misuse.

Mental Health

Parenting

Separation/Divorce

  • Changing Focus organization provides support to divorced, separated and widowed individuals.

Substance Use

  • Alanon and Alateen. These family groups are a fellowship of relatives and friends of alcoholics who share their experience, strength and hope in order to solve common problems.
  • Family Wellness Workshop at Pathways. Therapeutic and educational program for family members of adults or adolescents struggling with substance use disorders.
  • Naranon helps relatives and friends of addicts recover from the effects of living with an addicted relative or friend.

Programs that raise greater awareness of behavioral health issues and needs.

Mental Health

  • Children’s Mental Health Matters – Maryland public education campaign to raise awareness of the importance of children’s mental health.
  • Maryland Coalition for Families – Not-for-profit organization that works on behalf of children with mental health needs and their families.
  • Mental Health Association of Maryland – Provides programs to increase public education; understanding and resources; advances public policy to improve care and outcomes; and monitors the quality of services received by individuals with mental illness and substance use disorders.
  • National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Anne Arundel County – Local chapter of the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization. NAMI advocates for access to services, treatment, supports and research and is steadfast in its commitment to raising awareness and building a community of hope for all of those in need.
  • On Our Own – Statewide mental health consumer education and advocacy group that promotes equality for people who receive mental health services and develops alternative recovery-based mental health initiatives.

Substance Use

  • Prevention Coalitions – Coalitions mobilize community members throughout the county to take an active stand in preventing underage drinking and substance misuse in Anne Arundel County.
  • Recovery Oriented System of Care (ROSC) – Anne Arundel County’s ROSC is a coordinated network of community based services and supports that is person centered and built on the strengths and resilience of individuals, families and communities to achieve abstinence and improved health, wellness and quality of life for those with or at risk of alcohol and drug problems.

Programs that assist with access to food, insurance, clothing, and emergency housing (rent, mortgage and utility assistance).


Hotlines

Organizations


Information about free legal services for low-income, homeless or disabled Maryland residents.

  • Disability Rights Maryland – Provides free legal services to Marylanders of any age with all types of disabilities (developmental, intellectual, psychiatric, physical, sensory, learning, traumatic brain injury), who live in facilities, in the community or who are homeless.
  • Maryland Legal Aid, Anne Arundel County – A private, non-profit law firm providing free legal services to financially qualified Maryland residents and Maryland residents over the age of 60 with civil court matters.
  • Self Help Centers – Provides free walk in legal services to individuals that are in need of legal advice and are not being represented by an attorney. Online Chat/Phone sessions are also available if you cannot make it to the district court. The website offers a wide variety of information, forms, and legal information to assist with legal matters.
  • Women’s Law Center of Maryland – Profit agency that provides legal services and advocacy for women and children and provide empowerment and access to justice and equality.

Programs that offer support to people experiencing grief and loss.

  • Chesapeake Life Center – Provides grief and trauma support and education to children, adults, families and members of the community, as well as programs and services for individuals and families whose lives are impacted by an unexpected diagnosis or advancing illness.
  • GriefShare – Friendly, caring group of individuals providing support through life’s most difficult experiences.
  • Grief and Loss Resources – What is grief, signs of grief and types of support.
  • Bereaved Parents of the USA (BPUSA) – National nonprofit self-help group that offers support, understanding, compassion and hope especially to the newly bereaved. BPUSA is open to all parents, grandparents and siblings regardless of the age or the circumstances of the death of their children, grandchildren or siblings.

Directories and programs that offer support to seniors.


Directories and programs that offer support to veterans.