Best Mental Health in Hawaii — 15 resources

About Mental Health for Women

Mental health services for women range from the free 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline to community mental health centers, sliding-scale therapists, and inpatient care. SAMHSA's National Helpline (1-800-662-HELP) provides 24/7 referrals, and the Office on Women's Health (womenshealth.gov) maintains resources on postpartum depression, anxiety, trauma, and perimenopausal mental health. Medicaid covers behavioral health in all states, and ACA plans must cover mental health at parity with medical care. Postpartum Support International (1-800-944-4773) connects new and expecting mothers with trained providers. This directory surfaces crisis lines, low-cost therapy, women's support groups, and state mental health authorities.

Mental Health in Hawaii

Hawaii's Family Court is a division of the Circuit Court and operates in each of its four judicial circuits (Oahu, Maui, Hawaii Island, Kauai). The Child Support Enforcement Agency operates under the Attorney General. Honolulu is the largest population center. Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii, and the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence serve women.

15 Resources

1. Hawaii Department of Health — Adult Mental Health Division — Free

AMHD runs the state's safety-net mental health system, including the Diamond Head Community Mental Health Center on Oahu and contracted Community Mental Health Centers on every neighbor island. The Punchbowl Street office at 808-586-4686 can connect an uninsured or Med-QUEST-enrolled mother to outpatient therapy, psychiatric medication management, ACT teams for serious mental illness, and crisis stabilization. Sliding scale; no one is turned away for inability to pay.

808-586-4686 · 1250 Punchbowl St, Honolulu, HI 96813 · Mon-Fri 7:45am-4:30pm · Visit Website

2. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Hawaii — Free

Dialing 988 from any Hawaii phone routes a mother to a local crisis counselor through the state's contracted 988 center, with statewide coverage 24/7. Counselors handle suicidal thoughts, panic attacks, postpartum despair, and the specific isolation that comes with being a parent on an island far from extended family. Free, confidential, no insurance check.

988 · Statewide Phone/Text Service · 24/7 · Visit Website

3. NAMI Hawaii — Free

NAMI Hawaii's Kapiolani Boulevard office runs the state's Family-to-Family, Peer-to-Peer, and Connection recovery support groups — all free and led by trained volunteers who have lived experience with mental illness in their own families. Call 808-591-1297 or email info@namihawaii.org weekdays 9am to 5pm to find an upcoming group near you. Groups meet on Oahu and remotely for neighbor island participants.

808-591-1297 · 770 Kapiolani Blvd Suite 613, Honolulu, HI 96813 · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website

4. Mental Health Kokua — Honolulu — Free

Mental Health Kokua is a longtime Honolulu provider operating supportive housing and clubhouse-model day programs for adults with serious mental illness, including women coming out of psychiatric hospitalization or homelessness. The Kapiolani Boulevard office at 808-737-2523 takes referrals weekdays 8am to 4:30pm. Med-QUEST and state behavioral health funding accepted; bring insurance information at intake.

808-737-2523 · 1221 Kapiolani Blvd Suite 345, Honolulu, HI 96814 · Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm

5. Postpartum Support Hawaii — Free

The Hawaii chapter of Postpartum Support International coordinates volunteer peer mentors and a list of local OB-GYNs, psychiatrists, and therapists who specialize in perinatal mood and anxiety disorders — relevant for new mothers in Honolulu, Hilo, Kahului, and Lihue who often face long waitlists for any provider, let alone a perinatal specialist. Call the national PSI helpline at 800-944-4773 weekdays 9am-5pm for warm-line support and Hawaii referrals.

800-944-4773 · Statewide Service · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm; Crisis Text: HOME to 741741 · Visit Website

6. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Free

The national 988 number is the same line used in Hawaii but it also supports women traveling between the islands and the mainland for family, medical, or work reasons. Counselors are available by call, text, or chat 24/7 in English and Spanish, and they can warm-transfer to local Hawaii crisis services if the caller is currently in the islands.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

7. SAMHSA National Helpline — Free

SAMHSA's 1-800-662-HELP line is the federal treatment locator that backs up Hawaii's state-level referral systems. When AMHD has a waitlist or a mother needs help finding a women-specific dual-diagnosis program, SAMHSA's bilingual counselors can identify Hawaii facilities with current openings, including residential and outpatient. 24/7, free, no insurance check.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

8. NAMI HelpLine — Free

The national NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI complements NAMI Hawaii's local groups by providing one-on-one peer information specialists who can help a mother understand a new diagnosis, navigate insurance denials for psychiatric care, or figure out how to support an adult child with mental illness. Mon-Fri 10am-10pm Eastern.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

9. Mental Health America — Free

MHA's free online screenings for depression, anxiety, PTSD, and postpartum mood disorders are a low-friction first step for a Hawaii mother who suspects something is wrong but isn't ready to call a provider. Results are confidential and come with referrals to follow-up resources, including warm-transfer options to MHA affiliates.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

10. MentalHealth.gov — Free

The federal MentalHealth.gov hub explains in plain English what insurance is required to cover under mental health parity laws — including Med-QUEST in Hawaii — and how to appeal a denial. Useful when a mother has been told her plan won't pay for therapy or psychiatric medication and she needs to know whether the denial is lawful.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

11. Postpartum Support International — Free

PSI's national helpline at 1-800-944-4773 is staffed by volunteers including some based in Hawaii. They can connect a new mother to the closest perinatal mental health specialist, virtual support groups timed for HST evenings, and culturally specific groups for AAPI and Native Hawaiian mothers. Free.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

12. National Maternal Mental Health Hotline — Free

Operated by HRSA, the 1-833-TLC-MAMA hotline is staffed 24/7 by mental health counselors trained specifically in perinatal mood disorders. It's especially useful for Hawaii mothers in the middle of the night when the time difference closes most mainland services. Available by call or text in English and Spanish.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

13. Crisis Text Line — Free

Texting HOME to 741741 routes a woman to a trained crisis counselor by text — useful in shared housing where speaking on the phone isn't safe or possible, a common scenario for Hawaii women living in multigenerational households. Counselors handle suicidal ideation, abuse, and acute anxiety, and they can stay on text for as long as needed.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

14. Therapy for Black Girls — Free

Therapy for Black Girls' directory filters by Hawaii, helpful for Black women living in a state where culturally competent providers can be hard to find. The platform also hosts a long-running podcast covering identity, relationships, and motherhood that many Hawaii listeners use as a supplement between therapy sessions. Free directory and podcast.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

15. Anxiety & Depression Association of America — Free

ADAA's therapist directory lets a Hawaii mother search for licensed providers who specialize in CBT, exposure therapy, or perinatal anxiety — modalities that are evidence-based but not always offered through Med-QUEST panels. Free webinars and self-help articles cover panic, OCD, and generalized anxiety, useful while waitlisted for a provider.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

Frequently Asked

How many mental health resources are in Hawaii?
Women's Corner tracks 15 mental health resources for women in Hawaii.
Are mental health resources in Hawaii free?
15 of the 15 listed mental health resources in Hawaii are explicitly free or low-cost.
Which cities in Hawaii have mental health resources?
Listings span cities including Honolulu.
What are some examples of mental health resources in Hawaii?
Featured entries include Hawaii Department of Health — Adult Mental Health Division, 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Hawaii, NAMI Hawaii, Mental Health Kokua — Honolulu, Postpartum Support Hawaii.
Do these listings include phone numbers?
5 of 15 Hawaii mental health listings include phone numbers.
I'm in crisis right now — who do I call?
Dial or text 988 — the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, free and confidential, 24/7. For substance use or mental health referrals, call SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP. If you're a woman in immediate danger from a partner, also call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.
How do I find a therapist I can afford?
Community Mental Health Centers in every state offer sliding-scale therapy based on income. Medicaid covers therapy in all 50 states. Open Path Collective offers
0–$80 sessions nationwide. Psychology Today's directory filters by insurance, sliding scale, and women's issues. Many universities offer free counseling through graduate training clinics.
Will going to therapy hurt my custody case?
Almost never — judges view voluntarily seeking mental health care as responsible parenting. Therapy records are confidential except for narrow exceptions (child abuse disclosure, imminent self-harm). If your ex tries to use your therapy against you, courts routinely reject that argument. Court-ordered evaluations are different and you should have an attorney.
Is there mental health support for postpartum depression?
Yes. Postpartum Support International (1-800-944-4773 or text 'Help' to 800-944-4773) runs a free helpline and connects you to local providers specializing in perinatal mood disorders. Most OB/GYNs screen for PPD and can prescribe or refer. Medicaid covers PPD treatment, and many states extended postpartum Medicaid to 12 months.