Mental Health and Substance Use Resources
When you need help, we are here for you.
Finding accurate and helpful information is not always easy. We will take the time to listen, understand your needs and help you find the right support at the right time.
As an Independent Health member, you have access to a team of experienced and highly-trained care specialists who can provide you with safe, confidential guidance on your wellness journey.
Independent Health’s Behavioral Health Department
(716) 529-3945, Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Telemedicine Benefit*
With Teladoc®, you can consult with psychologists, therapists, psychiatrists, clinical social workers, substance use counselors and doctors. — Phone consultations are available 24/7 — Online video consultations requests from 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. Learn more to get started.
Mental Health Advocates of WNY
Independent Health encourages our members to seek help for Mental Health concerns. We encourage you to take a self-screening test at to learn more about their available resources.
Resources
If you or someone you know needs immediate help, reach out to any of the following resources:
CALL 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
A national network of more than 200 crisis centers providing 24/7, confidential support to people in suicidal crisis or mental health-related distress.
- Call: 988
Veterans can press “1” after dialing 988 to connect directly to the Veterans Crisis Lifeline which serves our nation’s Veterans, service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and those who support them.
For texts, Veterans should continue to text the Veterans Crisis Lifeline.
Crisis Services
Serving Erie and Niagara County 24/7, providing emergency outreach, crisis care management, domestic violence support and trauma support. Translation services available on all hotlines.
- 24-hour Crisis Hotline for Erie County: (716) 834-3131
- 24-hour Crisis Hotline for Niagara County: (716) 285-3515
- 24-hour Addiction Hotline: (716) 831-7007
- Kids’ Helpline: (716) 834-1144
- 24-hour Crisis Text Line: Text “HELLO” to 741741
- 24-hour Crisis Text Line for Frontline Workers: Text “FRONTLINENY” to 741741
- TTY: 711
Erie County Department of Health Addiction Hotline
Available 24/7, providing immediate help, education, information, referrals and assistance with links to addiction treatment services.
- Call: (716) 831-7007
Best Self 24/7 Hotline
For information on Virtual Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) – the use of medications in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies for individuals with Opioid Use Disorder. Those seeking treatment can access the on-call care directly without a referral from a physician or treatment center.
- Call: (716) 463-6222
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's National Helpline
Provides 24/7 free and confidential treatment, referral and information about mental health and/or substance use disorders, prevention and recovery in English and Spanish.
- Call: 1-800-662-4357
Additional local providers are available with a wide range of services tailored to the unique needs of each individual.
BestSelf Behavioral Health - (716) 884-0888
Services:
- Children/Family/Young Adult outpatient mental health
- Young Adults substance use
- Adult mental health and substance use
- Health & Human Services
Catholic Charities of Buffalo - (716) 856-4494
Services:
- Children/Adult/Family outpatient mental health
- Adolescent/Adult/Family outpatient chemical dependency treatment/support
- Basic needs
- Care coordination
- Domestic violence support
- Family/Parent resources
Child and Family Services - (716) 335-7000
Services:
- Child and Family outpatient mental health
- Domestic violence support
- Health Homes
- Children’s mental health residential
ECMC Emergency, Inpatient,and Outpatient Services - (716) 898-1676
Services:
- Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP)
- Adolescent/Young Adult mental health (hospital)
- Adult alcohol and drug rehabilitation program (hospital)
- Adult outpatient mental health
- Adult outpatient substance use
Endeavor Health Services - (716) 895-6701
Services:
- Children/Adult mental health
- Adolescent/Adult substance use
Evergreen Health Services - (716) 847-2441
Services:
- Adult substance use
- Harm reduction
- Syringe exchange program
- Mental health
- Health & Human Services
Horizon Health Services - (716) 831-1800
Services:
- Children/Young Adult/Adult/Family mental health
- Adolescent/Adult/Family substance use
- Residential substance use (Young Adult/Adult)
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Treatment (EMDR)
- Detoxification
- Telehealth
- Care coordination
- Recovery support
- PTSD
Jewish Family Services - (716) 883-1914
Services:
- Children/Adolescent/Adult mental health counseling
- Care coordination
- Career and job development
Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center - Niagara Wellness Connection Center - (716) 278-4541
- Adult and Senior populations
- Inpatient psychiatric services
- Outpatient mental health services
Spectrum Health & Human Services - (716) 662-2040
- Children/Adolescent/Adult mental health
- Adolescent/Adult substance use
- Children/Adolescent crisis response
- Community-based
- Health & Human Services
VA Western New York Healthcare System
Buffalo: (716) 834-9200 / 1-800-532-8387
Batavia: (585) 297-1000
- Mental health
- Substance use
- PTSD
Additional local providers are available with a wide range of services tailored to the unique needs of each individual.
BestSelf Behavioral Health - (716) 884-0888
Services:
- Children/Family/Young Adult outpatient mental health
- Young Adults substance use
- Adult mental health and substance use
- Health & Human Services
Catholic Charities of Buffalo - (716) 856-4494
Services:
- Children/Adult/Family outpatient mental health
- Adolescent/Adult/Family outpatient chemical dependency treatment/support
- Basic needs
- Care coordination
- Domestic violence support
- Family/Parent resources
ECMC Emergency, Inpatient,and Outpatient Services - (716) 898-1676
Services:
- Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP)
- Adolescent/Young Adult mental health (hospital)
- Adult alcohol and drug rehabilitation program (hospital)
- Adult outpatient mental health
- Adult outpatient substance use
Endeavor Health Services - (716) 895-6701
Services:
- Children/Adult mental health
- Adolescent/Adult substance use
Evergreen Health Services - (716) 847-2441
Services:
- Adult substance use
- Harm reduction
- Syringe exchange program
- Mental health
- Health & Human Services
Horizon Health Services - (716) 831-1800
Services:
- Children/Young Adult/Adult/Family mental health
- Adolescent/Adult/Family substance use
- Residential substance use (Young Adult/Adult)
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Treatment (EMDR)
- Detoxification
- Telehealth
- Care coordination
- Recovery support
- PTSD
Kids Escaping Drugs - (716) 827-9462
- Children/Young Adult inpatient facility (Renaissance Campus Buffalo)
- Residential treatment for ages 12-20
- Halfway house for ages 15-23
Spectrum Health & Human Services - (716) 662-2040
- Children/Adolescent/Adult mental health
- Adolescent/Adult substance use
- Children/Adolescent crisis response
- Community-based
- Health & Human Services
VA Western New York Healthcare System
Buffalo: (716) 834-9200 / 1-800-532-8387
Batavia: (585) 297-1000
- Mental health
- Substance use
- PTSD
For those looking for additional support or to learn more about mental health conditions and/or substance use, the following educational resources are available throughout the community.
Al-Anon Family Groups
Services:
- Child and Family support
- Education and resources
Alcoholics Anonymous
Services:
- Recovery support
- Education, advocacy and group resources
Catholic Charities of Buffalo - (716) 856-4494
Services:
- Basic needs
- Care coordination
- Domestic violence support
- Family/Parent resources
Community Action Organization of WNY - (716) 881-5150
Services:
- Emergency and Family
- Prevention
- Housing support
- Youth services
Erie County Department of Mental Health - (716) 858-8530
Services:
- Community support information and resources
- Self-help/mutual aid
- Detoxification
- Legal
- Housing
Independent Health Care Coordination and Behavioral Health Services - (716) 529-3945
Services:
- Independent Health members only
- Care coordination
- Mental health/substance use treatment options
- Help understanding your medications
Mental Health Advocates of WNY - (716) 886-1242
Services:
- Child and Family community support
- Legal services and advocacy
- Education, advocacy and support group resources
Narcotics Anonymous
Services:
- Recovery support
- Education and resources
National Alliance on Mental Illness Buffalo & Erie County - (716) 226-6264
Services:
- Family education
- Family support
- Mental health information and support
National Association for Children of Addiction
Services:
- Adult and Family support
- Education, advocacy and resources
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Services:
- Education and resources
- Research and training
- Clinical resources
Problem Gambling Resource Center - (716) 833-4274
Services:
- Assessment
- Referral
- Treatment
- Recovery support
Salvation Army - (716) 883-9800
Services:
- Family emergency
- Adult rehabilitation
- Senior services
Veterans One-stop Center of WNY - (716) 898-0110
Services:
- Veteran services
- Peer support
Ny Project Hope
www.nyprojecthope.org
1-844-863-9314
Services:
- Available 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. (7 days)
- Free, confidential and anonymous
- Emotional support hotline
- Helps people manage and cope with changes brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic
Erie County Department of Health’s Naloxone Training
Free training on opioid overdose and the use of Naloxone, a medication used to rapidly reverse opioid overdose.
NARCAN®
Find out how to get and use NARCAN® nasal spray, a prescription medicine used for the treatment of a known or suspected opioid overdose emergency.
Horizon Health Services Opiate Overdose Prevention Training
Call (716) 831-2700 for free opiate overdose prevention kits and training.
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Healthy Habits that Can Improve your Mental Health
Explains what a habit is, how habits can impact your overall health, and what might affect health behaviors. Discusses how starting small leads to bigger changes.
Stress Management and Psychological Wellbeing
Defines the 6 factors of Psychological Well-being and why this is important. It helps employees recognize the need for self-care or stress management and ways they can manage stress and emotional health.
Mental Health in the Workplace
Provides an overview of mental illness along with statistics to begin breaking the stigma. Common mental health definitions, signs and symptoms are discussed, as well as the impact mental health has on family and work, and when to seek help. The mind-body connection and a list of resources are discussed.
Understanding Substance Use Disorders and Addiction
Provides insight into the most common substance use disorders and demonstrates that it can happen to anyone. It helps employees recognize what they might see, and that there is a link between mental health and substance use. Prevention, treatment, and resources are discussed.
*Benefits vary by plan. Excludes Medicare Advantage plans. Check your benefit plan documents for your applicable member cost share and other information associated with the telemedicine benefit. If your plan is HSA-qualified, by law, you are responsible for paying the full cost of Teladoc services until your deductible is satisfied. Teladoc does not replace the primary care physician. Teladoc does not guarantee that a prescription will be written. Teladoc operates subject to state regulation and may not be available in certain states. Teladoc does not prescribe DEA controlled substances, non-therapeutic drugs and certain other drugs which may be harmful because of their potential for abuse. Teladoc phone consultations are available 24 hours, 7 days a week while video consultations are available during the hours of 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., 7 days a week.