Behavioral-Medicine-icon

Behavioral Medicine

What to Expect

When you call or visit Behavioral Medicine, you will be treated with courtesy, patience, and respect. We will ask some initial questions to identify your needs and then guide you to the best resources available. We may suggest doing an initial assessment and will provide you with the forms necessary to gather the appropriate information.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States. Just dial 988. For more info visit https://988lifeline.org/

See ‘TeleHealth’ below for log-in tips and steps.


Services

Behavioral Medicine services are provided at Stevens Community Medical Center in Morris. When symptoms of mental illness are creating problems in your day-to-day functioning, we are available to assist you.

We offer the following services:

  • Family Therapy
  • Individual Therapy
  • Couples or marital counseling
  • Medical psychological consultation
  • Diagnostic assessments
  • Psychological testing
  • Psychiatric assessment
  • Medication management
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Outpatient Mental Health

The Behavioral Medicine Department, Stevens Community Medical Center’s mental health program, has been serving mental health needs in the community since 1985. We are part of a complete medical care facility treating the physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs of our patients and families. Our strong team of therapists, physicians, counselors, and mental health practitioners are available to provide assistance for a wide range of mental health needs.

Mental Health Crisis Phone List

  • SCMC has a mental crisis line: (800) 568-5955. It is staffed by the SCMC Behavioral Medicine Team. The patient can call if they are having a mental health crisis or suicidal thoughts. This service is strictly via phone. For afterhours in-person intervention please call the Mobile Crisis team listed below. This is a contracted service intended for Steven and Traverse County residents.
  • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States. Just dial 988. For more info visit https://988lifeline.org/
  • The Region IV South Mental Health Consortium has a mobile crisis team: (701) 364-0431. They can respond to mental health needs in the comfort of their own home. They will also come to the ER to assess suicidal and psychotic patients, possibly in need of hospitalization. This is a service for all ages.
  • Crisis Text line: Text MN to 741 741. If a person is suicidal but does not want to call there is a state text line where they can text a trained mental health professional. It can be anywhere in the US at anytime of day. Teens and young adult seem to prefer this method.
  • Minnesota Warmline: (877) 404- 3190 for people who are not in crisis and just need someone to talk to. It is available Tues – Sat 5pm to 10 pm.
  • Minnesota Farm and Rural Helpline: (833) 600-2670  https://www.mda.state.mn.us/about/mnfarmerstress/copingstress
  • If a person has Medica insurance, there is an outpatient mental health team they can access at (800) 848-8327. I have heard very positive feedback from people who have utilized this resource. 

TeleHealth

SCMC Behavioral Medicine is now offering Virtual Mental Health Care for their current clients. Below is an infographic with steps to help you get started from the comfort of your home. Please call us at 320-589-7625 if you have questions on how to connect to the virtual waiting room for your scheduled appointment. 

Click on button to go to the secure patient TeleHealth portal.

NEW 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States. Just dial 988. For more info visit Lifeline. https://988lifeline.org/

Special Programs

Community Support Programs (CSP) Outreach and other support services for adults with serious and persistent mental illness is available to residents of Stevens County.

Children’s Therapeutic Support Services (CTSS) are provided to emotionally disturbed and severely emotionally disturbed youth (0-18 yrs.) in Stevens County.

The Behavioral Medicine Department contracts with a psychiatrist to do psychiatric assessments and medication management. An initial one hour appointment is completed by the psychiatrist followed by twenty minute follow-up medication management sessions. Care is coordinated by your psychiatrist and primary care physician with your approval.

Emotional Support Animals (ESA)

An emotional support animal is a companion animal that provides therapeutic benefit to an individual with mental or psychiatric disability. The animal is part of the treatment plan for a person who meets the definition of the disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Housing Act, and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The animal is determined to be needed in order to address specific functional limitations and allow the person to live independently. It is up to a mental health provider to evaluate the need and if a ESA can be prescribed. A therapeutic relationship has to be established for a few months before a therapist in the Behavioral Medicine department makes the determination of the appropriateness of having an ESA.

Referrals

You may be referred to Behavioral Medicine by

  • Self
  • Physician
  • Clergy
  • School
  • Chemical Dependency Counselors
  • Social Workers
  • Employers

Confidentiality

Privacy and confidentiality are of the highest concern. All registration is done directly at Behavioral Medicine, so there is no need to go to the front desk. Therapy records are kept separate from all other medical records.

Payment

Behavioral Medicine accepts payment from private insurance, Prime West, Minnesota Health Care programs, Medicare, Blue Cross / Blue Shield, Medica, Champus, UCare, Dakota Care, Preferred One, Behavioral Healthcare and others. We are able to bill most insurance companies directly if a release form is signed by the patient.

If you are without insurance, have a high deductible, or have special circumstances, you may qualify for a reduced rate based on family size and income.