Emergency Mental Health Services

Emergency Services is committed to providing quality care for individuals in crisis through assessment, crisis intervention and stabilization services on an outpatient basis, as well as referral to all the Center’s program and other community resources. Emergency clinicians are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

To access Emergency Services, call the Portsmouth office at (603) 431-6703 or the Exeter office at (603) 772-2710. The clinician with whom you speak may elect to meet you in person at the Center or make arrangements to meet you at Exeter Hospital. After-hours calls will be answered by our answering service who will take your name and number and an on call clinician will return your call.

In an immediate emergency, call 911 or your local emergency phone number.

Psychiatric Services

Our psychiatric services are administered and provided by Board Certified Adult, Child and Geriatric Psychiatrists and Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners, Nurses and a Medical Assistant. Our psychiatrists work in partnership with the treatment team to ensure coordination of care. Psychiatric services include psychiatric assessment, medication management needs, and ongoing follow-up.

Our Psychiatry Department also provides consultation at Lamprey Health Center in Newmarket and Raymond, and has contracted with Families First Health and Support Center to provide the services of an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner at their clinic two days each week. We strive to help clients of all ages achieve their recovery goals.

Adult Mental Health Services

Our Adult Services staff provides comprehensive mental health care to adults in our region age 18 and older. Depending on the clinical diagnosis, severity of impairment, and age of the client, our services range from psychotherapy and clinical/psychiatric rehabilitation to home and community-based services, residential care, and employment support services. These resources are designed to help each patient manage his or her symptoms and to enable them to lead more productive lives in the community.

We provide the following services:

Assertive Community Treatment Team is available 7 days a week to provide services to those adults experiencing severe and persistent mental illnesses. Service can be provided in the client’s home, in the community or here at SMHC. For these clients we are often a “hospital without walls.” Clinical specialties include: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Eye Movement desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy  EMDR).

Individual, Family, and Group Therapy is provided by Masters level clinical staff at both offices and in the home, if needed. Clinicians are trained in a variety of therapeutic modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Family Therapy and Motivational Interviewing.

Referral Education Assistance & Prevention Program (REAP) provides free preventative home and community-based counseling and education services to people over the age of 60, who have problems with alcohol, drugs, mental health problems, or other life changes. We also work with caregivers of “at risk” elders to educate them on how to intervene if an elder becomes unable or unwilling to accept help. We administer this program statewide and contract with the other nine New Hampshire community mental health centers to carry out this service in their regions.

Substance Use Disorder Treatment services include the evidenced-base practice of Integrated Treatment for Co-Occurring Disorders (ITCOD), and an outpatient Medication Assisted Treatment program. Services  are available to individuals in our catchment area.

Community Support Services provide case management, supportive housing, employment support, family support, and education through support groups to adults and their families who are experiencing a disabling mental illness.

Targeted Case Management is a comprehensive assessment of the client to determine the need for medical, educational, social or other services; the development of a comprehensive care plan based on the needs identified in the assessment; making referrals and other related activities to help the client obtain needed services; monitoring and follow-up activities which may include contact with other service providers to ensure the effective implementation of the care plan; and modifying the plan as needed.

Illness Management and Recovery (IMR) is an evidence-based practice that helps facilitate the client’s pursuit of their life goals beyond their disability or illness. While consumers are provided education, support, and encouragement in this model, they are active participants in this service. IMR embraces the concepts of recovery, hope, and personal empowerment.

Supported Employment is an evidence-based practice designed to help individuals with severe and persistent mental illness to find and keep competitive jobs. Because work can be an essential step on the path to well- being and recovery, our Vocational Specialists help clients find work and stay employed. They help the client assess their skills and vocational interests, search for a job, prepare for the interview and provide ongoing support and guidance to help the client remain employed. In some instances, family members or a significant other may be part of the support team.

InSHAPE™ is an innovative wellness program that brings together a broad range of community organizations such as: YMCA of the Seacoast, Exeter Area YMCA, Spinnaker Point Recreation Center, Seacoast Pathways, Seacoast Connections(consumer alliance), and others who are concerned with health, exercise, and nutrition to provide our clients:
· Personal health mentors
· Access to fitness activities provided by program partners
· Nutrition counseling and education
· Smoking cessation support
· Medical liaison support
· Encouragement and support for receiving regular medical check-ups and active management of chronic health conditions

Fairweather Lodge is an eight-bed group home for adults with severe mental illness that is staffed 24/7. The SMHC staff also help clients find affordable housing in the community.

Services for the Homeless – We are able to provide services to any individual/family experiencing homelessness or in danger of becoming homeless who may be living with a mental illness, experiencing similar symptoms, and/or suffering with substance abuse. Our Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) program has been able to connect homeless persons suffering from serious mental illness and/or co-occurring substance-use disorders with services in the community. The PATH worker helps clients secure all available benefits and services, which could include Emergency Food Stamps, Medicaid, Social Security benefits, mental health care, and physical care, etc. Follow-up to ensure the individual/family is able to easily access these services and achieve their goals is a vital part of what we provide. Additional services include referrals for primary care, job training, education, transportation, and relevant housing services. These services are provided at Cross Roads House as well as at the common gathering areas of the unsheltered homeless. As a result of symptom stabilization, substance use curtailment, assurances of safety and familiarity with mental health supports, and connections to needed financial, medical, transportation, vocational, and other community supports, participants are able to increase their access to permanent housing.

Child, Adolescent and Family Services

Child, Adolescent and Family Services are provided to children ages 3-18 and their families in a variety of settings that include the office, home, community, school and healthcare offices. Services can be provided to adolescents between the ages of 18-21 if they continue to be enrolled in school and meet state eligibility requirements. With supports available for the entire family system, the Center believes that the family can gain a better understanding of the youth’s needs while utilizing strategies to strengthen the family system.

The staff includes Master’s level clinicians who hold degrees in psychology, social work, counseling and family therapy who are specifically trained in diagnosing and treating children and their families. We also have Bachelors-level family outreach specialists whose primary role is to provide home and community based behavioral supports to the children and adolescents we serve. In order to be more accessible to children and families, clinical staff are co-located in the Portsmouth, Seabrook, Exeter, Raymond, Epping, Northwood, Rye, Newington, Brentwood, Newmarket and Hampton  Schools and Sanborn Regional High School. Additionally, staff are co-located at Lamprey Health Care in Newmarket and Raymond, and Core Pediatrics in Epping and Exeter.

Targeted Case Management is a service which provides a comprehensive assessment of the youth/family’s needs. Areas assessed may include:  housing, education, recreation, medical, legal, vocational/employment, in addition to other basic needs. A comprehensive care plan is then developed with the youth and family in order to address the identified needs. The comprehensive care plan may include making referrals to help the youth and family obtain needed services and supports. The case manager may also provide follow-up and modification to the comprehensive care plan, as needed. Follow-up may include contact with other service providers to ensure the effective implementation of the care plan. Ongoing monitoring of the care plan and continued assessment of needs is provided in order to reach the goals determined by the youth and family.

Learning and Attention Disorder Services are provided to children and their families who are coping with learning, attention, or behavior problems in the home, at school, or at the workplace. In addition, consultation and training services for schools and other agencies as needed is also provided. Current services include:

• Psychological Evaluations
• Psychotherapeutic Services
• Parent Training
• Consultation and Training Services for schools and agencies
• Development of Positive Behavior Support Plans

Child, Adolescent and Family Services also provides distinct services for children diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder and their families. Staff work with children in developing emotional regulation skills, social skills and coping skills as well as with functional communication and other augmentative and alternative communication strategies. When working with the families, staff help them develop the skills to manage symptoms both in the home and community settings. Staff provide support to parents and caregivers to assist their children in developing skills to increase independence and improve their overall functioning in all settings.

Utilizing the Rehabilitation for Empowerment, Natural Supports, Education, & Work (RENEW) model, SMHC has been providing services to at-risk youth, in collaboration with the UNH Institute on Disability. The program’s focus is to improve educational and community outcomes for at-risk youth identified with an emotional or behavioral disorder that are at-risk of dropping out or being expelled from high school. The model focuses on providing community based, intensive services to the adolescent in order to promote his/her success at school and within the community. Participants should be 15 years or older, struggling academically, socially or lack future orientated goals, have needs which are not being met and are not connected to his/her larger social environment and be willing to participate in services. The teenager drives the services and develops goals with his/her provider using futures mapping.  Futures mapping is a visual representation of the youth’s goals. They create seven maps, each with a different purpose and to tell a different story.  For instance, the youth creates a map to tell his/her story, a map to outline his/her future goals, a map outlining supports, etc. This is all done with drawings and reviewed each time the youth meets with their RENEW facilitator. Youth receiving services continue to indicate to their providers that they feel heard and that their goals matter. It has given them a sense of control over their lives they have never felt before. Currently four outreach staff are trained as RENEW facilitators and one outreach staff person has been trained as a RENEW coach.

The Child Impact Program is a court ordered 4 hour course required of all parents of children under age 18 who are in the process of divorce or who are required to have a parenting plan to address custody and financial support. The course assists parents in understanding the impact of divorce, separation and custody issues on their child(ren) and how they can best help their child(ren) adjust to the divorce and the changes that result. This program also provides suggestions as to ways participants can develop a newly defined relationship as co-parents and find ways to work together to raise their children.

Program Cost:

The cost of the program is $85.00 per person.

Payment in full is required at the time of registration.

On-line registrations may be paid by clicking here.

Participants  may use PayPal accounts or Visa, MasterCard or Discover.

Reduced Fee Option is available. DO NOT register online. Contact: Patsy Onatah at ponatah@smhc-nh.org or 603-957-5731 during our regular business hours.

Addiction Treatment Services

Substance Use Disorder Treatment services include the evidenced-base practice of Integrated Treatment for Co-Occurring Disorders (ITCOD), and an outpatient Medication Assisted Treatment program (Suboxone). Services are available to adults living in our catchment area. Services are provided by licensed clinicians whose backgrounds are in the areas of both addiction services and mental health services and our Board certified psychiatrists.

Community Health Services

Mental Health Court services are provided to non-violent offenders whose offense is believed to be caused by their mental illness symptoms. This is a voluntary court-supervised treatment program in lieu of traditional penalties. The program is a collaborative effort that includes the Portsmouth, Exeter, and Hampton District Courts, local law enforcement agencies, Public Defenders, and SMHC. The goal is three-fold: recovery, savings, and social benefits. First, it seeks to help ensure that the participants do not recidivate back into the criminal justice system. Second, it seeks to help ensure the participant remains in treatment for their illness. Lastly, it seeks to help the individuals remain productive citizens of their communities. We only admit clients who would be eligible for Bureau of Behavioral Health services even if they were not in Mental Health Court.

Correctional Wrap is an integrated treatment model in coordination with the Rockingham County Jail social worker to help ensure those being released are able to obtain the appropriate mental health and substance misuse services they need .

Community Access to Recovery is a collaboration that identifies ways our community can better address the heroin epidemic. We were part of the core group that implemented the first Community Care Team, which will be identifying people who utilize our local Emergency Departments for reasons that are not emergent so that we can develop treatment plans and other needed services to insure that the needs of these individuals are met appropriately. SMHC also participates in the Seacoast Public Health Network, whose mission is to engage regional prevention, treatment and recovery providers in establishing a coordinated continuum of care.

Participation in a statewide Military Supports initiative, designed to improve access to and the quality of care for veterans, service members, and military families. Our goal is to be sure that our staff better understands the military culture for both the veteran or the service member and their family. We have the ability to provide evidence-based practices when treating combat trauma and we are knowledgeable of the services and resources available to our service men and women and their families.

Seacoast Mental Health Center collaborates with Families First Health and Support Center through a contractual arrangement whereby by we provide an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner to the Families First who provides on- site psychiatric services and consultation in a primary care setting.

Collaborations with local schools, area pediatricians, and other child-serving agencies enable the Child, Adolescent and Family Services staff to better understand the needs of the youth and their family and they help to ensure that parents and guardians are not receiving conflicting messages from professionals.  When differences arise, collaborative meetings are used to better understand that needs of the family and to ensure the family’s voice is driving the clinical treatment.

Collaborative Partnerships enable the youth and their family to receive treatment within their community in the least restrictive manner possible. Among our partners are:

• NH Division of Child and Family Services
• NH Division Juvenile Justice
• NH Department of Health and Human Services
• Chase Home for Children in Portsmouth
• One Sky Developmental Services
• Head Start
• Rockingham County Child Advocacy Center
• Institute on Disability
• The Children’s Behavioral Health Collaborative
• Raymond Coalition for Youth
• Lower Seacoast Youth Collaborative
• Portsmouth Resource Connections Team

Mental Health First Aid

Supported by substantial scientific research, Mental Health First Aid has proven effective at educating the general public in ways to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. Participants learn how to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health problems and to provide initial aid before guiding a person toward appropriate professional help. Those interested may register for classes at mentalhealthfirstaid.org. For more information about Mental Health First Aid classes or to schedule a class onsite at your location contact: Kerry Cromwell at kcromwell@smhc-nh.org.