It’s ok to not feel ok. And it’s more than ok to seek help for mental health. In fact, mental health disorders like anxiety and depression are very, very common. Research shows that nearly 20% of people in the U.S. faced one in the past year. That’s 1 in 5 people in line with you at the grocery store. So no matter how you’re feeling, know that you’re not alone.

Sometimes people aren’t sure when to talk to a doctor, but it’s always best to say something early and often. Especially if it’s difficult to navigate everyday things - like work, school or relationships. If you, or someone you know, is experiencing any of the following symptoms, it’s time to make an appointment.

• Loss of interest in things you usually enjoy
• Noticing that your mood has changed from normal to feeling down or sad most of the time
• Constant worrying about problems big and small
• Sudden spells of feeling afraid, heart racing, and/or you feel ill
• Mood shifting between very happy and extremely sad over several weeks
• Experiencing thoughts that the world would be better off without you
  

Doctors and mental health specialists in our primary care clinics can help patients with anxiety, depression, postpartum depression, panic, stress management, grief, family counseling and pediatric behavioral questions, including ADHD. If you’re seeking help for something else, we’ll refer you to one of our trusted mental and behavioral health specialists.

We recommend making an appointment with a primary care doctor as your first step. Primary care doctors care for people throughout all stages of life, and they’re the best place to begin for common conditions like anxiety, depression, postpartum depression, panic, stress management and grief. Also, you can usually schedule an appointment more quickly with a primary care doctor, helping you get answers and a treatment plan faster.

Our team also includes several mental and behavioral health specialists, because many courses of treatment involve the experience of multiple people. If your treatment plan requires the help of a mental and behavioral health specialist, we have psychologists, psychiatrists, family therapists, clinical social workers and more.

You can get started by making a primary care appointment online.

Or you can also choose a doctor or choose a location to get started and call to schedule an appointment.

Our primary care doctors can diagnose and treat common mental illnesses. Specialists treat common conditions that don’t respond to the typical treatment plan. They also treat more complex conditions, like bipolar disorder, eating disorders and compulsive behaviors. If your treatment plan requires the help of a mental and behavioral health specialist, we have a team of experienced psychologists, psychiatrists, family therapists, clinical social workers and more.

At HealthPartners and Park Nicollet, we take an integrated approach to treating mental health, leveraging the skills and experience of both our primary care doctors and mental and behavioral health specialists. Because our primary care clinicians can provide mental health care, we’re able to offer patients additional opportunities to find the support and treatment they need.

We also facilitate a conversation around mental health with every person who walks through our clinic doors. We ask a number of questions to open up the dialogue around mental health and ensure we’re addressing our patients’ physical and emotional health equally.

Making a difference in our community is one of our guiding values. Here are some of the ways we’re working to enrich the mental health and well-being of our community.

• Make It OK – As an organization, we’re helping Make It Ok to talk about mental illness. We know that it’s important to remove the barriers and stigma around mental health and clear the way for honest conversations. Only then can we fully support one another and make treatment more accessible for everyone. Make It OK offers tools and resources for how to talk about mental health issues in a respectful way.
• Growing Through Grief – This free school support program serves 13 Twin Cities school districts. It’s designed for students and school staff who are grieving the loss or preparing for the death of a loved one, and helps them heal from the pain and heartache that comes with that. The program gives kids and school staff a safe place to express grief, which helps them to not feel alone. This is key to learning healthy ways of coping. The program encourages healing through peer support groups and a range of activities.
• No Obstacles to Well-being (NOW!) – This program serves the Burnsville, St. Louis Park and Richfield school districts. It gives kids free access to mental health services right at school. Students talk with a Park Nicollet therapist through secure video chat. Both Spanish- and English-speaking therapists are available.

Your first appointment will focus on talking to your doctor. This is your time, so we want you to get the most out of your visit. Think about the top two or three things you’d like to discuss. To help you feel prepared, here are some questions your doctor may ask:

• How long have you been feeling this way?
• What medications do you currently take?
• Have you been seeing any other mental health specialists?
• Are there any stressful changes in your environment or relationships?
• Have your eating and sleeping routines been affected?

After discussing with your doctor, they’ll recommend a treatment plan so you can begin taking steps toward feeling better.

Some conditions respond well to talk therapy (also known as psychotherapy), some are successfully treated with medication, and sometimes a combination of both is best. We respect our patients’ preferences and will work with you to develop a treatment plan that you’re comfortable with.

If you or someone close to you needs help now, you have options.

If this is an emergency, please call 911. If you or someone you know is considering self-harm, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 for confidential support 24/7.

Call for 24/7 help:

• For HealthPartners patients, please call 612-339-3663 or 800-551-0859.
• For Park Nicollet patients, please call your clinic directly. For help after business hours, call 952-993-4665.
  

Walk in:

• Urgent care – Walk in and meet with a doctor at any of our 20 urgent care locations in the Twin Cities and western Wisconsin. Open weekdays, weekends and some holidays with no appointment needed.
• Emergency room – If you or someone you know needs emergency mental health care, visit the emergency room at Regions Hospital, which specializes in behavioral health.

We accept most health insurance plans, including Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, CIGNA, HealthPartners, Medica, Medicare, PreferredOne and many others.

Not sure what your insurance covers? Call the number on the back of your card for help looking at your options.

Don’t have your card in front of you? Here are the member services numbers to help you get started:

• HealthPartners: 800-883-2177
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota: 800-382-2000
• CIGNA: 800-244-6224 (insurance through work); 866-494-2111 (insurance directly or through the Exchange)
• Medica: 800-952-3455
• Medicare: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)
• PreferredOne: 763-847-4477 (in the Twin Cities); 800-997-1750 (outside the metro area)
• United Healthcare: 877-842-3210