How to Find a Mental Health Clinic in Tampa, Florida

Public and private mental health clinics in Tampa help treat patients struggling with depression, substance abuse, addiction issues, eating disorders or other mental illnesses. Although navigating the network of information about Tampa mental health services can seem challenging, relying on four types of resources can help you find a mental health clinic in Tampa.

• 1

  Use local, state and federal government resources. Government agencies offer a variety of tools and resources to help locate mental health clinics in Tampa. The Hillsborough County government publishes an online tool to help you find mental health services in and around the Tampa area. By selecting Tampa from the drop-down menu of cities, and then choosing "mental health" from the services list, you will produce a list of mental health service providers with just a few clicks of your mouse.

  The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration provides a mental health facility locator that lets you search for services by postal code and specific services. Similarly, the Florida Department of Children and Families provides lists, directories and links to facilities that provide mental health services for adults and children.

• 2

  Rely on mental health advocacy organizations. Groups like Mental Health America and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) publish interactive maps, tools, lists and directories to help you find mental health clinics in Tampa. NAMI also provides links to Tampa-area NAMI chapters, resources to find help for children and adolescents and links to find mental health services on Tampa college campuses.

• 3

  Check resources developed by professional organizations. Since all mental health clinics have at least one medical professional on staff, connect with professional organizations that represent mental health clinicians to find help in Tampa. Groups like the Florida Medical Association and the Florida Psychiatric Society publish tools, lists and directories of Tampa-area physicians who specialize in psychiatry and psychoanalysis. FMA's directory allows you to search for mental health services by county or postal code; the FPS publishes contact information for Tampa-area chapters of the organization, where you can get assistance in finding area mental health clinics.

• 4

  Ask your doctor. Trusting your family doctor to refer you to mental health clinics is no different than asking him to refer you to specialists who can help with a variety of physical ailments. Talk with your doctor about the kinds of help that you feel you need, and ask for a referral to area mental health clinics. Your doctor can produce a list of potential clinics that offer the services you need.