Community Mental Health Referrals: From Referral to Recovery
The good news is that community mental health referrals are one of the key mechanisms designed to close this gap. Put simply, a referral is the structured handoff from a professional to a community-based service that can provide targeted mental health care.
Evidence shows that when referrals are carefully made and properly documented, people are more likely to get timely follow-up treatment. In turn, their care and recovery outcomes can improve, and hospital admissions to psychiatric wards decrease.2
If you’d like to understand how community mental health referrals work, mental health providers such as Mission Connection can talk you through the process. This page can also help, covering:
What community mental health referrals are- Reasons why a mental health referral might be made
- What the referral process might look like
- Types of services someone might be referred to
- Where to find community-based mental health support
Understanding Community Mental Health Referrals
A referral from community mental health services is the formal method by which someone is connected to specialized care that matches their needs.
First, a primary care doctor, school counselor, or social worker recognizes that a person’s mental health needs likely exceed the scope of their service. Once they recognize this, they typically initiate a referral to the appropriate community mental health system.
Community mental health services are often the only safety net for people without private insurance. The referral serves populations who may not have access to private care; for example, publicly funded clinics, crisis intervention teams, psychiatric rehabilitation programs, and outreach services.
However, you may be wondering why these referrals might be made. The following section covers what could prompt a community mental health referral.
What Prompts a Community Mental Health Referral?
For example, circumstances that could prompt an urgent community mental health referral include:3
Clear evidence or strong suspicion that a person poses an immediate risk of harm to themselves or others if left unsupported- Cognitive decline or confusion that places a person at risk after physical or medical causes have been ruled out
- A patient presenting with delirium, where no underlying medical explanation is found
- Sudden loss of social support or an overwhelmed support network
- Situations where a person is at risk of abuse, or is in an environment that is clearly unsafe
- Refusal to eat or drink, particularly if sustained, and previous interventions have failed
- Dangerous behavior where rapid assessment and treatment could prevent escalation
- Clinical judgment from the referrer who deems the presentation urgent and linked to mental health
What Does the Community Mental Health Referral Process Look Like?
A community mental health referral is often made after needs like those discussed previously are identified. After which, a professional will aim to match the person with a provider who specializes in addressing those needs. The referral process typically looks like the following:
1. Identifying the Need for a Referral
People who show cognitive concerns may be assessed through the Mini-Mental State Examination or the Montreal Cognitive Assessment scales.5
In schools, behavioral checklists and teacher reports can flag children who are persistently disruptive due to mental health concerns.
2. Preparing for the Referral
The referrer will look at what services are available in the community, including:
The kind of services offered, such as therapy, psychiatry, crisis services, substance use support, or family or child therapy- The accessibility of these services, such as languages spoken, cultural sensitivity, and disability access
- Practical details like cost, insurance options, wait times, appointment hours, and transport
After this consideration, the referrer will involve you in a clear, open conversation about your care options. For instance, you’ll likely learn the potential benefits of mental health services before you’re matched with the right type of provider.
Additionally, if you have any questions about costs or transportation, or have a fear of stigma or cultural concerns, these can be addressed before you start therapy.
3. Making the Referral
Next, the referrer will put all the key details about you together in a referral package, including:
- Your presenting concerns, including their duration and impact
- Any immediate safety risks
- Your medical background and current medications
- Your allergies, if any
- Relevant social context, such as your housing status, caregiving responsibilities, or legal issues
- Urgency level
- The required timeframe for review
Once everything is put together, the referral is sent through the system via an online portal, email, or by directly calling the local mental health team.
If your situation is urgent, it gets flagged and pushed to the top of the queue. If not, you’ll be told about the average waiting time until your first appointment.
4. Follow-up
Once the paperwork is done and the call has been made, the referrer will make sure you actually benefit from the treatment.
For this reason, you and the referrer must be on the same page about why the referral was made. Once the reason for this is clear, the referrer may call ahead to the mental health service (with your consent) to flag the referral so the provider is prepared.
They’ll also explain to you what to expect from the referral. Some referrers offer to sit with you when you make the first phone call or arrange a private space so you feel comfortable doing it yourself. Further, if you need assistance, they may accompany you to the first appointment.
A “point person” will also likely be assigned to you who will check in by phone, text, or in person and ask how things are going. If you hit any barriers (like transport, cost, or communication problems), they can suggest what can be done to keep things moving.
Types of Services a Person May Be Referred To
For example, the following are some of the most commonly referred to community mental health services:
Outpatient Counseling and Therapy
Outpatient treatment is the most common type of mental health service people are referred to. This is because it’s typically flexible, so it can easily fit into everyday life without requiring a hospital stay.
In outpatient services, you continue with your routine, such as living at home, while attending scheduled sessions with a mental health professional.
It has been shown to work for anxiety, trauma-related conditions, eating disorders, substance use problems, grief, family or relationship difficulties, and stress. It’s also appropriate for people with mental health conditions like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia if they are stable.7
Outpatient therapy can be delivered via various forms, such as:
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), where you are enabled to recognize and change destructive thought patterns- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), which can help you manage intense emotions and build coping skills. It’s commonly used for issues like borderline personality disorder or self-harm
- Psychodynamic therapy, which looks into deeper patterns rooted in past experiences and relationships
- Family or couples therapy to address relationship dynamics and improve communication between family members
- Group therapy, which is guided by a therapist and brings people with similar struggles together to share and learn in a supportive setting
Inpatient Programs
Inpatient programs may be warranted if your mental health status can’t be maintained safely outside of a specialized facility.
Unlike outpatient therapy, where you head to an appointment and then go home, inpatient treatment means you stay on site until it’s safe for you to leave.8 This means you’re not left to cope on your own between sessions.
Conditions treated in inpatient settings include severe depression with suicidal thoughts, acute episodes of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or sudden behavioral crises that can’t be managed safely at home.
Treatment in inpatient programs combines multiple approaches, such as:
Short one-on-one therapy sessions that can help you process your emotions and develop coping strategies- Medications to bring your symptoms under control
- Working with peers who are also admitted to build emotional regulation skills
- Psychoeducation for patients and their families about their diagnosis, treatment, and warning signs of relapse
Crisis Intervention Services
Crisis intervention services are what stand between a mental health emergency and a full-scale disaster. They act as the rapid-response arm of mental health care, where they can de-escalate, stabilize, and make sure you live to see the next step of treatment.
A referral to these services may be warranted when someone is at immediate risk and waiting for a routine appointment isn’t an option. Such situations might include:9
Suicide risk- Severe self-harm
- Acute psychosis with loss of reality
- Violent or aggressive behaviors linked to a mental disorder
- When caregivers have exhausted every tool they have to keep someone safe
In situations such as these, crisis resolution and home treatment teams, usually run by community mental health trusts, can step in and provide intensive support right where you live.
There’s also the option of crisis stabilization units (CSUs). These require a short stay where someone can be closely monitored, have medications reviewed, and receive round-the-clock support until they’re stable. Additionally, there are mobile crisis units that can help you at home, in school, or in a public space and provide on-the-spot de-escalation.
However, if none of these resources are available, the emergency department becomes the default landing point. You may also be referred to services such as these via specialized hotlines like the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US. Hotlines like these can serve both as an immediate lifeline and a hub to connect you with local crisis services.10
Trauma-Informed Referrals
Trauma-informed referrals are made when a person’s difficulties are linked to past or ongoing traumatic experiences. This is because trauma can shape how a person thinks, feels, and interacts with the world. In such circumstances, a “standard” mental health referral may be insufficient.
A trauma-informed approach ensures that the provider understands the impact of trauma and delivers care that avoids re-triggering distress.
Referrals in this category are common for survivors of childhood abuse, victims of domestic violence, refugees or asylum seekers, and people experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Therapists who receive these referrals are trained in evidence-based trauma therapies such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, trauma-focused CBT, and somatic approaches.11
Mission Connection Healthcare: Your Partner in Mental Health Support
Mission Connection Healthcare specializes in coordinating community-based mental health support, including outpatient counseling, crisis support, and more structured treatment programs.
We understand that every person’s story is different, and, therefore, so is every referral. Therefore, our pre-assessment helps us create a tailored plan so that you or your loved one isn’t bounced between providers but matched with the right type of care from the start.
We also endeavor to keep cultural sensitivity, practical barriers, and family needs in mind. If you would like more information on our team or services, call us or get in touch online today.
References
- National Alliance on Mental Illness. (2023, April). Mental health by the numbers. National Alliance on Mental Illness. https://www.nami.org/about-mental-illness/mental-health-by-the-numbers/
- Loveday, W. H., Panagiotopoulou, L., Dineva, D., Pita, A. A., Eltuhamy, Y., & Sabir, A. (2022). Improving referrals to community mental health services in the liaison setting. BMJ Open Quality, 11(2), e001651. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjoq-2021-001651
- Hilton, C., Bajaj, P., Hagger, M., Taha, S., & Warner, J. (2008). What should prompt an urgent referral to a community mental health team? Mental Health in Family Medicine, 5(4), 197. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2777582/
- O’Connor, E., Henninger, M., Perdue, L. A., Coppola, E. L., Thomas, R., & Gaynes, B. N. (2023, June). Table 5, Most commonly used and recommended depression, anxiety, and suicide risk screening tools for relevant patient populations. In Screening for Depression, Anxiety, and Suicide Risk in Adults: An Evidence Review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. National Institutes of Health. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK592808/table/ch1.tab5/
- Wang, G., Estrella, A., Hakim, O., et al. (2022). Mini-Mental State Examination and Montreal Cognitive Assessment as tools for following cognitive changes in Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative participants. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 90(1), 263–270. https://doi.org/10.3233/jad-220397
- Head Start. (2024, October 22). Facilitating a referral for mental health services for children and their families. HeadStart.gov. https://headstart.gov/mental-health/article/facilitating-referral-mental-health-services-children-their-families
- Medicare.gov. (2019). Outpatient mental health coverage. Medicare.gov. https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/mental-health-care-outpatient
- Mental Health America. (2025, January 8). In patient care. Mental Health America. https://mhanational.org/resources/in-patient-care/
- National Alliance on Mental Illness. (n.d.). Crisis intervention. NAMI. https://www.nami.org/Advocacy/Crisis-Intervention/
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. (2025). 988 Lifeline. https://988lifeline.org/
- National Library of Medicine. (2014). Trauma-informed care: A sociocultural perspective. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK207195/