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Behavioral health

Mental health and wellness care.

Older woman smiling while sitting in yoga pose

If 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 a roster of 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 Direct Advantage® 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 for individuals, couples, families and children
  • Inpatient hospital services
  • Outpatient hospital services
  • Outpatient therapy
  • Telehealth video visits
  • Calm Health

What you should know

Coverage is obtained through plan providers. Out-of-network service is not covered unless approved by Sharp Health Plan because needed services are not available in-network.

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.

You can log in to your Sharp Health Plan online account to download your member handbook and find more information about your benefits.

Log in
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 our Customer Care team at 1-844-483-9013.

3 steps to get care

1

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.

2

Set up an appointment

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

3

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

 
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


Wellness webinars

Watch prerecorded webinars from our Best Health® team on healthy eating at home, the importance of sleep, mindfulness and other well-being topics.

Watch webinars


Free classes and events for seniors

Sharp provides various classes and events designed for seniors, including regular memory screenings, monthly group walks, and much more.

Find classes


 

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

Healthy aging

Getting older is a natural part of life. If you take good care of your mind and body now, you can slow down or even prevent problems that often come with getting older.

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

Grief and loss

It's common to experience grief and loss, especially as you get older. Learn the five stages of grief and helpful ways to cope with loss.

Read more View all topics

Alzheimer's disease & Dementia

Dementia is a loss of mental skills that affects your daily life. If you or a loved one has memory loss that is getting worse, see your doctor — it may be nothing to worry about. If it is Alzheimer's, treatment may help.

Read more View all topics

Alcohol and drug use

Many people think substance use disorders happen only to teens and younger adults. But people of all ages can have problems with drugs and alcohol, including older adults.

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.

Need community resources?

Check out our community resource hub for free and low-cost services for San Diegans from trusted resources like 211 San Diego.

Learn more

Featured behavioral health articles

Get insights from our expert caregivers on addressing mind and body health in our everyday lives.

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Finding the right therapist can take some time, but it is worth the effort.

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Keep your brain healthy as you age

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Learning self-chakra (video)

Dr. Julie Furby demonstrates healing touch therapy that involves balancing the chakras.

Relax on the beach or whatever is your quiet space, and practice mindfulness

Mind your heart

Here’s what researchers know so far about how practicing mindfulness affects the heart.

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Paws-itive reinforcement

Dogs are nature’s anti-anxiety medication.

Kathy Mendias, manager of administrative resources and retail services at Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns

The healing power of tears

Crying can be healing for men and women, in good times and bad.

 

Caregiving resources

When you’re caring for a loved one, it’s important to take care of yourself, too. Get help with meals, find support from peers and check out other helpful resources from Sharp HealthCare.

View resources
Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital

Older adult services at Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital

Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital offers inpatient and outpatient behavioral health treatment programs for adults age 60 and older. The programs provide help with dementia, mood disorders, addiction and anxiety, among others.

1. No referral needed for outpatient therapy with a provider in your network.

Sharp Direct Advantage is offered by Sharp Health Plan. Sharp Health Plan is an HMO with a Medicare contract. Enrollment with Sharp Health Plan depends on contract renewal. Read the full disclaimer.

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