Mental Health

Mental Health Over the past eight years, the state has deliberately and steadily moved mental health services from a primarily institutional based system to a system that seeks to provide services to the populations with severe and persistent mental illnesses and severe emotional disturbances in community settings. That effort has resulted in the phased closing of state hospital beds and the closure of one state hospital; increased funding for the development of community-based programs and services; and increased coordination, collaboration, and integration between community mental health centers (CMHCs) and state hospitals.

The primary local coordinating agency for community-based mental health services is the licensed CMHC. There are 27 CMHCs in Kansas and two licensed affiliates. The licensed affiliates specialize in services to children and their families. There is a greater emphasis on the delivery of services to persons with the most serious illnesses�the target populations. In Kansas, our target populations are adults with severe and persistent mental illness and children with severe emotional disturbance.

The current community-based mental health service system in Kansas also includes:

15 Adult Family Homes;

11 Consumer-Run Organizations;

Over 3,000 Kansas and national self-help groups;

43 Residential Care Facilities;

Five Private Psychiatric Hospitals;

13 Nursing Facilities for Mental Health; and

Numerous mental health advocacy organizations and state-wide mental health associations.

In addition to the services noted above, MHSATR oversees the operation of three State Mental Health Hospitals (SMHH). These are Larned State Hospital, Osawatomie State Hospital, and Rainbow Mental Health Facility. The primary goal of SMHH placement is the stabilization of consumers who are experiencing acute symptoms in a safe and therapeutic environment. The combined budgeted bed capacity for these SMHHs is 375.

Mental Health Providers

For Mental Health Emergencies, contact the local Community Mental Health Center nearest you. 

There are two methods of locating a Community Mental Health Center.  Click on Map View and select your county or click on Mental Health Provider List to view an alphabetized listing.