Assessment and Referral

The First Step:  Assessment and Referral

Individuals or families concerned about themselves or a loved one often experience occasional problems which involve difficulty with, or unusual changes in, a person's behaviors, mood, thought, substance use or coping with stressful life circumstances. 

Sometimes, however, the level of distress or problems resulting from such circumstances may indicate an underlying behavioral health or substance abuse condition which requires assessment by a qualified professional, and referral for treatment to the most appropriate health care provider in the most appropriate treatment setting.  The determination of whether a behavioral health condition exists, and what treatment options are best suited to the individual, is not always clear to concerned families, or even to general healthcare professionals. 

PSI behavioral health hospitals that provide acute care services also provide assessment and referral services, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  Individuals seeking treatment or information, as well as concerned family members and referring professionals, can easily call the nearest PSI hospital for a confidential assessment.

A face-to-face assessment may be scheduled with a qualified mental health professional to review the individual's concerns and discuss the best treatment options.  The assessment takes approximately 30-45 minutes and concludes with recommendations for the best treatment options. 

Assessment and referral is a community service provided by PSI hospitals at no charge, and is offered to anyone regardless of whether treatment ultimately is received at a PSI facility or elsewhere.

Click here to locate the nearest PSI facility offering Assessment and Referral services.