Free and Low-Cost Mental Health Care in Dallas–Fort Worth

Where can someone find free or low-cost mental health care in Dallas–Fort Worth? Start with the public behavioral-health authority serving your county, a federally qualified health center, your insurance plan, or SAMHSA's treatment locator. Eligibility, fees, services, and appointment availability change, so contact each program directly before relying on a listing.

This guide separates crisis care from routine outpatient treatment. It is not a promise that a particular program has an immediate opening.

If help cannot wait

• Call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
• Call 911 or go to an emergency department for imminent danger or a medical emergency.
• In Dallas County, Metrocare lists a 24/7 crisis hotline at 214-743-1215, and the North Texas Behavioral Health Authority crisis line is 866-260-8000.
• In Tarrant County, MHMR's ICARE crisis line is available by call or text at 800-866-2465.

Confirm current numbers on the organizations' official pages before sharing them with someone else.

Dallas County: Metrocare Services

Metrocare Services provides mental health services for Dallas County residents, including outpatient and community-based programs. Metrocare states that it serves people regardless of ability to pay and uses a financial assessment to determine insurance, self-pay, sliding-fee, or other options.

Services, eligibility, clinic locations, and intake procedures vary. Contact Metrocare directly rather than assuming a particular service is free.

Tarrant County: MHMR

My Health My Resources of Tarrant County provides mental-health, substance-use, crisis, youth, and referral services. Its intake guidance asks people to bring identification, insurance information when applicable, and proof of income when seeking benefit assistance. MHMR also publishes information about its sliding-fee scale.

Adults can call 817-335-3022 for information, resources, and services. Families should use MHMR's current youth and early-childhood contact information on its official website.

Search beyond county programs

• FindTreatment.gov can locate mental-health and substance-use programs by ZIP code.
• SAMHSA's low-cost treatment guide explains sliding fees, grants, payment plans, health centers, and state or county programs.
• Dial 211 in Texas or use the current 211 Texas directory for local social-service referrals.
• Ask federally qualified health centers whether they provide integrated behavioral-health care and income-based fees.
• Ask colleges, universities, employers, unions, faith communities, and professional associations about counseling clinics or employee-assistance programs.

If you have insurance but cannot afford care

Call the behavioral-health number on the insurance card and ask for currently available in-network providers. Confirm the copay, coinsurance, deductible, telehealth benefit, and whether prior authorization is required. Ask the provider about payment plans or other financial-assistance policies.

Lyte Psychiatry's insurance guide explains benefit verification, while the Texas psychiatry cost guide explains common cost terms. These pages do not guarantee benefits or pricing.

Questions to ask before scheduling

• Are you accepting new patients?
• What ages and conditions do you treat?
• Do you provide therapy, psychiatric medication management, or both?
• What documents establish eligibility or income?
• Is the fee free, fixed, sliding-scale, or dependent on benefits?
• Are there separate charges for evaluations, medications, laboratory work, or missed visits?
• What should I do if my symptoms become urgent while waiting?

Frequently asked questions

Is county mental health care free?

Not always. Some crisis services may be available without charge, while outpatient fees may depend on eligibility, income, insurance, and the specific program.

Can I receive care without insurance?

Yes, some public programs, health centers, nonprofit clinics, and private practices offer self-pay, sliding-fee, charity-care, or payment-plan options. Ask directly about eligibility and total expected costs.

Where can I find low-cost counseling in Dallas County?

Metrocare, federally qualified health centers, community clinics, university training clinics, and SAMHSA's locator are reasonable starting points. Availability changes.

Where can I find low-cost mental health services in Tarrant County?

MHMR of Tarrant County is the public-system starting point. Its website lists intake, crisis, youth, adult, and sliding-fee information.

What if every provider has a waiting list?

Ask for cancellation lists, group treatment, telehealth, another clinic location, or a referral to a comparable program. Use crisis services when waiting is unsafe.

Resource information changes. Verify eligibility, fees, services, telephone numbers, and availability directly with each organization.