Behavioral health

Mental health and wellness care.

IIf you're struggling mentally or emotionally, we're here to help. Discover how to find a behavioral health provider for yourself or a loved one – no referral needed.¹

Behavioral health benefits

We’re proud to partner with OptumHealth Behavioral Solutions of California (Optum Behavioral Health) a trusted leader in the mental health and substance use disorder industry, to provide behavioral health benefits to our members.

Together, we make it easy for you to access the care you need, with thousands of behavioral health providers for you to choose from, a suite of virtual mental health and substance use disorder specialty care, and 24/7 access to personalized evidence-based digital tools and wellness resources.

Sharp Health Plan members have access to:

Mental health and substance use disorder services for all ages
Testing, diagnosis and treatment for mental health conditions
Routine visits or follow-up visits
Personal or family counseling including children
Inpatient hospital services
Outpatient hospital services
Outpatient therapy
Autism services
Telehealth video visits
Calm Health digital tools

Log in to your Sharp Health Plan online account to view your Member Handbook and find more information about your benefits.

Sharp Health Plan - Behavioral Health Guide cover

Still have questions?

See our guide to behavioral health or frequently asked questions. If you have any questions about your behavioral health benefits or how to obtain coverage, you can call the Customer Care team at 1-844-483-9013.

3 steps to get care

Find a provider

You don’t need a referral from your primary care physician to access outpatient therapy from a provider in your network. Search for an in-network behavioral health provider and filter by specialty, location and more to find the best fit for you.

Tip: There are many types of behavioral health care professionals. From psychiatrists to psychologists to therapists and more — learn the differences between them.

Set up an appointment

After you choose a provider, follow their site’s instructions to schedule an appointment as a new patient.

Prepare for your first visit.

Whether your first appointment is in person or a video visit, your provider will ask you about your current health and health history before your session. It will likely be a questionnaire to help your provider get a better sense of your needs.

Once you’re set up, consider taking a self-assessment (or “screening”) for more insight into your behavioral health needs. Screenings do not provide a diagnosis and simply offer suggestions. It’s a good idea to share your screening results with your provider.

TAKE DEPRESSION SCREENING TAKE ANXIETY SCREENING

Self-service tools

Best Health

Best Health^® is our award-winning wellness program that’s completely free for members. When you sign up, you’ll get wellness tips and tools to help you feel your best. Features include custom content that’s right for you, innovative goal setting and challenges, advanced trackers with smart device compatibility and much more.

Get started

Best Health Wellness Assessment

The Best Health Wellness Assessment is a quick, confidential survey that helps you identify health risks, set goals and get motivated to make healthy choices. Based on the information you provide; programs and wellness content are customized to your unique health needs.

Take assessment

Calm Health

Calm Health is the #1 mental health app designed to help you manage stress, sleep better, and live a happier, healthier life. It's free for our members. Calm Health's research-based tools help you build life-changing habits to support your mental health. If you're having trouble falling asleep, their 500+ Sleep Stories^®, soundscapes, and guided sleep meditations can lull you to sleep. If you're spiraling in negative thoughts and need immediate relief, their 60-second Breathe Bubble grounds you in the moment and helps your body return to a state of relaxation. If you're overwhelmed at work and need a breather, their stress and burnout specialists can guide you through exercises to help calm your mind. Calm is there for you whenever or wherever you need them with more content and tools being added monthly.

Get started

Common behavioral health conditions

Anxiety

Learn about the symptoms of anxiety and get access to helpful tools.

Trembling or twitching
Lightheadedness
Sleep problems

Inability to concentrate
Restlessness
Worrying too much

Read more View all topics

Depression

Learn about the causes and symptoms of depression like sadness and feelings of helplessness. This topic covers related illnesses like bipolar disorder, as well as treatment options, like medication, counseling, and lifestyle choices. It also talks about suicidal thoughts and how to find the right care.

Read more View all topics

Trauma

Trauma is a response to a deeply stressful event that can leave lasting effects or lead to PTSD, but healing is possible.

Read more View all topics

Perinatal depression

Learn the causes, symptoms and treatments for perinatal depression, which can happen during and after pregnancy.

Read more View all topics

Autism

People of any age can have autism with different support needs. Learn about autism's characteristics, causes and treatments.

Read more View all topics

Bipolar disorder

There are three main types of bipolar disorder: bipolar I, bipolar II and cyclothymia. Learn more about the symptoms, treatments and ways to find support.

Read more View all topics

Post-traumatic stress disorder

Learn more about the causes and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This topic looks at how treatment can help, the steps you can take, and discusses effective treatments.

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Suicidal thoughts or threats

Suicide occurs almost twice as often as murder. Each year, about 36,000 people in the United States die by suicide. In the U.S.: Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death. Suicide is the third leading cause of death for people ages 15 to 24 and the second leading cause for people ages 25 to 34.

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ADHD

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a mental health condition with three types: combined, impulsive/hyperactive, and inattentive/distractable. While the exact cause is unknown, genetics play a significant role, and it is often diagnosed in childhood. Treatment typically includes medication and behavioral counseling to improve outcomes and quality of life.

Read more View all topics

Help hotlines

In addition to the resources listed above, the following hotlines are available to talk over a problem, find information, or get advice.

San Diego Access and Crisis Line
1-888-724-7240
TDD: 1-619-641-6992
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
988 or dial 1-800-273-8255
TTY: Dial 711, then 1-800-273-8255
Adult Protective Services
1-800-339-4661
The Friendship Line
1-800-971-0016
National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
TTY: 1-800-787-3224
Video phone: 1-855-812-1001
National Sexual Assault Hotline
1-800-656-HOPE (4673)

Mental health parity

Important notes on behavioral health coverage

Affordable mental health benefits are built into every plan we offer. Learn more about mental health parity.

Coverage must be obtained through in-network providers. Out-of-network services will not be covered unless approved by Sharp Health Plan.

Behavioral health services will not be approved, denied or modified based solely on the type of admission (voluntary or involuntary) or method of transportation to a health facility.

Learn more