Best Mental Health in North Dakota — 14 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 North Dakota

North Dakota district courts handle family matters across seven judicial districts. The Child Support Division operates under DHHS. Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, and Minot are the largest cities. Legal Services of North Dakota and CAWS North Dakota (the statewide DV coalition) provide civil legal aid and safety services to women.

14 Resources

1. ND Department of Health & Human Services — Behavioral Health — Free

The ND DHHS Behavioral Health Division at 600 E Boulevard in Bismarck oversees the eight Human Service Zones that deliver public mental health and substance use care. Call 701-328-8920 Mon-Fri to locate your zone's intake number and sliding-scale fee schedule. Particularly relevant for uninsured mothers needing outpatient therapy or psychiatric medication management.

701-328-8920 · 600 E Boulevard Ave, Bismarck, ND 58505 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

2. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — ND — Free

Dialing or texting 988 from any ND phone routes to a trained local crisis counselor 24/7. Specialized lines exist for veterans (press 1), Spanish speakers (press 2), and LGBTQ+ youth (press 3). For women experiencing perinatal crisis, postpartum, or domestic-violence-related distress, counselors can warm-transfer to local DV shelters and emergency departments without breaking confidentiality.

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

3. NAMI North Dakota — Free

NAMI North Dakota in Bismarck runs free peer-led support groups for women with mental illness and family-to-family education classes for mothers of children with mental health diagnoses. Email info@naminorthdakota.org or call 701-255-4698 to find a group near you — Fargo, Grand Forks, Minot, and Bismarck all have monthly meetings. NAMI also advocates at the ND Capitol for mental health funding.

701-255-4698 · Bismarck, ND · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

4. Postpartum Support North Dakota — Free

The ND chapter of Postpartum Support International connects new mothers experiencing postpartum depression, anxiety, OCD, or psychosis with PSI-trained providers and free virtual support groups. Crisis Text Line (HOME to 741741) and the PSI national line at 800-944-4773 cover after-hours. Resources are also available in Spanish for ND's Latina mothers and adapted for tribal communities.

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

5. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Free

988 is the national three-digit successor to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. It works from any phone or text in the US and is staffed 24/7 by trained crisis counselors. ND callers route to regional centers — Solutions Behavioral Health in Fargo handles many — so referrals to local follow-up care are realistic rather than generic. Free, no insurance, no caller-ID retention.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

6. SAMHSA National Helpline — Free

SAMHSA's 1-800-662-HELP (4357) is a 24/7 confidential treatment-referral and information line operated by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. ND mothers struggling with co-occurring mental health and substance use are routed to local treatment centers — Heartview, ShareHouse, Prairie St. John's — based on insurance and clinical fit. Free, English and Spanish.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

7. NAMI HelpLine — Free

The NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) is staffed by trained peers who have lived experience with mental illness. Available Mon-Fri 10am-10pm ET, the line is especially useful for ND mothers navigating their own diagnosis or supporting a teenager with depression. Text NAMI to 62640 for the same support by message, or visit nami.org/help for the chat option.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

8. Mental Health America — Free

MHA at mhanational.org hosts the most-used set of free, validated mental health screenings online — for depression, anxiety, PTSD, postpartum, and substance use. Results come with personalized next-step guidance and links to local resources. Useful first step for ND women unsure whether their symptoms warrant treatment, since screenings can be shown to a primary care provider.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

9. MentalHealth.gov — Free

MentalHealth.gov is HHS's plain-language portal explaining what major mental health conditions look like, how treatment works, and how to support a family member. Particularly accessible for ND mothers brand new to the system — articles are short, vetted by NIMH, and include action-oriented questions to ask a doctor or therapist at intake.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

10. Postpartum Support International — Free

PSI's national helpline at 1-800-944-4773 (text/call) connects mothers with perinatal mental health concerns to coordinators in every state. The ND coordinator maintains a list of providers — therapists, psychiatrists, OBs — trained in perinatal mood disorders. Free weekly support groups by phone serve mothers of loss, NICU parents, partners, and Black mothers specifically.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

11. National Maternal Mental Health Hotline — Free

1-833-TLC-MAMA (852-6262) is the HRSA-operated 24/7 hotline launched in 2022 specifically for pregnant and postpartum women in mental health distress. Counselors hold perinatal credentials and can deescalate crises that 988 generalists are not specialized in — like intrusive thoughts of harming the baby that almost always indicate postpartum OCD, not psychosis.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

12. Crisis Text Line — Free

Text HOME to 741741 from any US cell phone to reach a Crisis Text Line counselor. The text format is essential for ND women in unsafe homes who cannot speak aloud, or for mothers whose anxiety makes phone calls overwhelming. The first response typically comes within five minutes; conversations are confidential and not logged for caller ID.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

13. Therapy for Black Girls — Free

Therapy for Black Girls is a directory and podcast founded by Dr. Joy Harden Bradford to connect Black women and girls with culturally responsive therapists. Several ND-licensed providers offering telehealth appear in the directory — important in a state where in-person Black mental health providers are sparse. Free to search; therapist fees vary by provider and insurance.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

14. Anxiety & Depression Association of America — Free

ADAA at adaa.org maintains a vetted directory of clinicians treating anxiety, depression, OCD, and PTSD, filterable by ND county and insurance. Free webinars and self-help articles cover panic disorder, social anxiety, and the cognitive-behavioral approaches most evidence-based for women's anxiety. Provider listings include telehealth availability — useful for rural ND mothers.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

Frequently Asked

How many mental health resources are in North Dakota?
Women's Corner tracks 14 mental health resources for women in North Dakota.
Are mental health resources in North Dakota free?
14 of the 14 listed mental health resources in North Dakota are explicitly free or low-cost.
Which cities in North Dakota have mental health resources?
Listings span cities including Bismarck.
What are some examples of mental health resources in North Dakota?
Featured entries include ND Department of Health & Human Services — Behavioral Health, 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — ND, NAMI North Dakota, Postpartum Support North Dakota, 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Do these listings include phone numbers?
4 of 14 North Dakota 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.