DJ Bettencourt is the deputy commissioner of the New Hampshire Insurance Department. Contact the NH Insurance Department for assistance at 603-271-2261 or consumerservices@ins.nh.gov.

According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, more than one in five American adults live with a mental illness, and more than one in 25 adults live with a serious mental illness. This means that we all know someone who may need help, and as our mental health changes over time, it is even possible that you might be that person in need.

Each year, the month of May is recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month. It is critical that individuals know how to obtain mental health assistance when they need it. No one experiencing mental illness, including their family and loved ones, needs to go through this struggle alone.

Finding the right mental health professional or program may seem daunting, but it does not need to be that way. If you are experiencing symptoms of mental illness, call your primary care doctor for a referral to a mental health provider. Additionally, the New Hampshire Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI), the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization, is a fantastic resource for information, education, and support to individuals and families affected by mental illness.

From an insurance perspective, during your search look for professionals or programs that are in your insurance network and offer telehealth appointments as an option. You might not find the best match right away but look for someone that you can connect with as you work with them.

Equally important, if a claim or your provider’s request for a specific treatment is denied by your insurance company, you need to understand your appeal rights. Ask your provider to contact the company for a clinical (or peer-to-peer) review to reverse the company’s denial. If the provider appeal is not successful, contact your insurance carrier and request an internal appeal. Finally, if that is not successful, contact the Insurance Department to understand and request an external appeal, which is a review conducted by an independent review board whose decision is binding on the insurance carrier.

For those who are experiencing a mental health challenge, or who know someone who is, it is vital to remember that you are not alone. There are dedicated mental health professionals throughout the state who are standing by, ready and able to provide treatment, and your insurance coverage should not be a barrier to accessing the necessary care.

Finally, the department reminds residents of the 988 dialing code, a new, easy-to-remember three-digit number to call (multiple languages) or text (English only). Dialing 988 will route callers to the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, and individuals with a New Hampshire area code will be routed to New Hampshire mental health providers who can help.

Understanding mental health treatment can be complicated, but finding the help you need should not be.

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