The demand for mental health services, across the country and across the Commonwealth, is at an all-time high. We are experiencing unprecedented call volume and seeing increased wait times for referrals. We are working as fast as we can to provide care to our callers, while also maintaining a high level of service. We appreciate your patience during this time.

Learn more about When and Where to Seek Help. We are not an emergency service. If you or the person you’re seeking to assist requires a crisis response to meet immediate safety needs, please call 911, go to your local emergency room, or find your local Emergency Service Program by calling 877-382-1609.

What to Expect When You Call the Helpline

The William James INTERFACE Referral Service is a mental health resource and referral Helpline that subscribing communities have contracted with to help children, adults and families become connected to mental health and wellness resources. Below, please find some information about what you can expect when you call the INTERFACE referral Helpline and are working through the referral process.

  • Intake— When you call, you will speak with a resource and referral counselor and you will be asked to complete a confidential intake. You will be asked for some basic contact information, information about yourself or your child, your insurance information, your or your child’s availability to meet with someone, and general information about what you are concerned about. The length of time to complete the intake varies but should take about 15-20 minutes.

 

  • Making a match— After the intake is completed, you will be assigned a case number for your reference in calls with INTERFACE. This is to protect your confidentiality. INTERFACE counselors begin a search for a match by utilizing a tailored search process in the database, as well as other resources to find the service you have requested. Counselors aim to make a "match" based on the insurance or fee requirement you have, the location(s) where you would like to be seen, your availability for an appointment, and the specialty or treatment need you have requested. You can expect that your resource and referral counselor will be in touch with you in the first few business days after your call to update you on the status.

 

  • Providing matches— Once a match has been identified, an INTERFACE counselor will call and/or email you the information including the provider’s name, credentials, location, and phone number. The INTERFACE counselor may also provide links to guides on our website that may be helpful, including information about how to choose a mental health provider. The INTERFACE Referral Helpline is committed to making a match within two weeks of receiving the intake, and counselors usually provide you with 2-3 matches.

 

  • Following-Up— After you have received the matches, one of the INTERFACE counselors will follow up with you within two weeks to see if you have been able to connect with the provider(s), and if so, how it is going. INTERFACE Referral Helpline is committed to honoring your voice and choice, and will follow-up with you until you feel you have found a successful match. The number of times you receive a follow-up may vary depending on how quickly a match is made.

 

  • Closing a referral— Once you feel you have found a successful match, the INTERFACE referral counselor will close the referral process with you. However, if you need additional support in the future for other referrals or if the match does not work out for some reason, please know that you can always call the Helpline again.

Throughout the process, the Helpline is available to you from Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm, and if you do not reach a person when you call, please leave a message as we do check it regularly and return calls very quickly. All you will need to reference is your case number, and anyone who answers will be able to provide you with information, update you about your referral, or assist you.