Best Mental Health in Massachusetts — 19 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 Massachusetts

Massachusetts Probate and Family Courts handle divorce, custody, paternity, and child support in each of its 14 counties. The Department of Revenue Child Support Enforcement Division runs enforcement. Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Cambridge, and Lowell are the largest cities. Greater Boston Legal Services, Community Legal Aid, Volunteer Lawyers Project, and Jane Doe Inc. (MA DV/SA coalition) serve women.

19 Resources

1. Massachusetts Department of Mental Health — Free

DMH at 25 Staniford Street in Boston operates state hospitals, Community Behavioral Health Centers, and the Adult Community Clinical Services network across six regions. Women without insurance or with complex needs can call 617-626-8000 Mon-Fri 8:45am-5pm to be routed to the right regional office for case management or service authorization. Free for DMH-eligible Massachusetts residents.

617-626-8000 · 25 Staniford St, Boston, MA 02114 · Mon-Fri 8:45am-5pm · Visit Website

2. National Alliance on Mental Illness Massachusetts — Free

NAMI Mass at 529 Main Street in Charlestown runs free peer-led support groups for women living with depression, anxiety, bipolar, and other diagnoses, plus separate Family-to-Family courses for relatives. Local affiliates meet in Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Cape Cod, and the Berkshires. Call 617-580-8541 weekdays 9am-5pm to find the nearest group or training cohort.

617-580-8541 · 529 Main St, Suite 1M14, Charlestown, MA 02129 · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website

3. Massachusetts Behavioral Health Helpline — Free

MBHH is the state's 24/7 free helpline launched by EOHHS in 2023 to route Massachusetts residents to real-time mental health and substance use services, including same-day Community Behavioral Health Center appointments. Call or text 833-773-2445 anytime; clinicians can dispatch mobile crisis teams to homes statewide. Free for any Massachusetts resident regardless of insurance.

833-773-2445 · Statewide Phone/Online · 24/7 · Visit Website

4. Samaritans of Boston — Free

Samaritans operates a free 24/7 statewide crisis-and-loneliness helpline staffed by trained volunteers from its Boston headquarters. Call or text 877-870-4673 anytime — particularly useful for Massachusetts women who want non-clinical, peer-style emotional support before a situation rises to a 988 call. Headquarters at PO Box 516 in Boston; programs are free and confidential.

877-870-4673 · P.O. Box 516, Boston, MA 02134 · 24/7 · Visit Website

5. Postpartum Support International — Massachusetts — Free

PSI's Massachusetts chapter connects new and expectant mothers to Massachusetts-based PSI coordinators who refer to perinatal-trained therapists, psychiatrists, and peer support groups across Boston, Worcester, Springfield, and the Cape. The 24/7 helpline at 800-944-4773 (call or text) is free, confidential, and not a crisis line — staff respond within one business day.

800-944-4773 · Statewide Resource · 24/7 Helpline · Visit Website

6. Riverside Community Care

Riverside is one of the largest community behavioral health providers in eastern Massachusetts, with the Dedham office at 270 Bridge Street offering outpatient therapy, psychiatry, and the Norfolk County mobile crisis team. Riverside accepts MassHealth, Medicare, and most commercial plans, and bills sliding-scale when needed. Call 781-329-0909 Mon-Fri 8am-6pm for intake.

781-329-0909 · 270 Bridge St, Suite 301, Dedham, MA 02026 · Mon-Fri 8am-6pm · Visit Website

7. Cambridge Health Alliance Behavioral Health

CHA is a public safety-net system serving Cambridge, Somerville, Everett, Malden, and Revere. The 1493 Cambridge Street campus houses inpatient psychiatry, outpatient clinics, and the Center for Mindfulness and Compassion. CHA accepts MassHealth and provides interpreters in 30+ languages. Call 617-665-1530 weekdays 8am-5pm to start intake.

617-665-1530 · 1493 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02139 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

8. Brockton Area Multi-Services (BAMSI) Behavioral Health

BAMSI at 10 Christy's Drive in Brockton offers outpatient therapy, medication management, and a Plymouth County mobile crisis intervention team for women in southeastern Massachusetts. The agency accepts MassHealth and most commercial insurance and serves uninsured clients on a sliding scale. Call 508-580-8700 Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm to schedule an intake assessment.

508-580-8700 · 10 Christy's Dr, Brockton, MA 02301 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm · Visit Website

9. Vinfen — Women's Mental Health Services

Vinfen at 950 Cambridge Street operates supported housing, ACT teams, psychiatric rehabilitation, and recovery learning communities for women living with serious mental illness across eastern Massachusetts. Most services are funded through DMH contracts and MassHealth. Call 617-441-1800 Mon-Fri 8am-5pm to inquire about referrals; many programs require a DMH eligibility determination first.

617-441-1800 · 950 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

10. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Free

Dial or text 988 from any Massachusetts phone to reach a trained counselor 24/7. Massachusetts calls route through the Lifeline network and can connect directly to the Massachusetts Behavioral Health Helpline mobile crisis dispatcher — an alternative to calling 911 for a woman in mental health crisis. Free and confidential.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

11. SAMHSA National Helpline — Free

SAMHSA's 1-800-662-HELP line is a free, confidential 24/7 treatment-referral service that knows the Massachusetts MassHealth behavioral health network and can direct mothers to local detox, IOP, and counseling options. Spanish-speaking counselors available; no insurance or ID required.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

12. NAMI HelpLine — Free

NAMI's national HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI is staffed by trained peers who can explain how MassHealth and commercial parity laws apply, how to fight a denied prior authorization, and how to find a NAMI Mass support group near you. Hours are Mon-Fri 10am-10pm ET. Free.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

13. Mental Health America — Free

MHA's free anonymous online screenings for depression, anxiety, postpartum mood disorders, and PTSD are the most-used in the country. Results come with referrals Massachusetts women can take to a MassHealth primary-care provider or therapist. Free and confidential.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

14. MentalHealth.gov — Free

Federal hub explaining how to talk to a primary-care provider about depression, how parity laws apply to MassHealth and commercial insurance, and what rights a Massachusetts woman has when seeking inpatient or partial-hospitalization care. Useful printable resource to bring to an appointment. Free.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

15. Postpartum Support International — Free

PSI's helpline at 1-800-944-4773 connects pregnant and postpartum women with perinatal mental health coordinators who maintain a Massachusetts-specific provider directory. Especially useful in Western and Central Massachusetts where perinatal psychiatry has long waitlists. Free, confidential, no insurance required.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

16. National Maternal Mental Health Hotline — Free

HRSA's 1-833-TLC-MAMA (852-6262) is staffed 24/7 by counselors who specialize in pregnancy and postpartum mental health, with Spanish-speaking counselors available. Free, confidential, and HIPAA-protected — useful for Massachusetts moms when local perinatal psychiatry has long waitlists at Brigham and Women's, Mass General, or UMass Memorial.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

17. Crisis Text Line — Free

Text HOME to 741741 from anywhere in Massachusetts to reach a trained crisis counselor by text. Free on all major carriers and useful for women who cannot speak out loud safely — for example during a domestic violence situation or in a shared bedroom at night. Confidential.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

18. Therapy for Black Girls — Free

Searchable directory of licensed Black women therapists practicing in Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Cambridge, and via Massachusetts telehealth. The accompanying podcast covers race-specific themes — workplace discrimination, family-of-origin pressure, and grief — often missing from mainstream mental health resources. Directory is free.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

19. Anxiety & Depression Association of America — Free

ADAA's therapist directory filters Massachusetts providers by specialty in panic disorder, OCD, social anxiety, and trauma — useful when MassHealth or commercial insurance directories don't show subspecialty. The free self-help library includes CBT-based exercises Massachusetts women can use between sessions.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

Frequently Asked

How many mental health resources are in Massachusetts?
Women's Corner tracks 19 mental health resources for women in Massachusetts.
Are mental health resources in Massachusetts free?
15 of the 19 listed mental health resources in Massachusetts are explicitly free or low-cost.
Which cities in Massachusetts have mental health resources?
Listings span cities including Boston, Charlestown, Dedham, Cambridge, Brockton.
What are some examples of mental health resources in Massachusetts?
Featured entries include Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, National Alliance on Mental Illness Massachusetts, Massachusetts Behavioral Health Helpline, Samaritans of Boston, Postpartum Support International — Massachusetts.
Do these listings include phone numbers?
9 of 19 Massachusetts 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.