The Department of Behavioral Health concentrates on the short and long term care and treatment of clients who have mental health and substance abuse issues. Many times an individual simply needs to "talk with someone" about his or her personal problems, while another person has complex and persistent life-struggles that need to be dealt with over months and years. The department is able, willing, and available to help people in need of behavioral health services so they can develop and realize more healthy individual lifestyles and richer communities. Many types of diagnoses are focused upon by professionals in the department. Common treatment issues include depression, anxiety, panic, addiction, abuse and other challenges to living a stable and full life.

     Our Behavioral Health Outpatient Clinic is staffed by psychiatrists, nurses, and masters level therapists trained to properly assess each client's needs and develop a comprehensive treatment plan to meet those needs. While the main clinic is located in Talihina, behavioral health outpatient services are provided through satellite clinics in McAlester, Broken Bow, Hugo, Poteau and at Jones Academy near Hartshorne. There are two residential substance abuse programs included in the continuum-of-care which serve Choctaw Nation eligible clients. These programs are both located in Talihina, within a mile of the Health Care Center. This allows patients in both residential programs to easily access quality medical and dental services.

     Healthy Marriage Healthy Kids
     The Choctaw Nation in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families and the Administration for Native Americans have awarded funds for implementing the Healthy Marriages/Healthy Kids Project within the Choctaw Nation. The primary purpose of this project is to improve the well-being of children in Native American Communities by fostering health marriages. The Choctaw Nation strongly believes in the importance and value of promoting strong families and healthy marriages. A major emphasis of the program will be to educate people about relationship enhancement skills and to provide Marriage Enrichment Education to Native Americans within the ten and one-half countries of the Choctaw Nation.

     The Recovery Center is a 28 day program for people who suffer from substance abuse. It includes individual, group, and family counseling within a highly structured environment. The recovery program assists in the positive development of personal problem solving, decision making, and general coping skills for patients with addictive behaviors.

     Chi Hullo Li is a six month program that focuses on women 18 to 35 years of age who have substance abuse problems and are parenting up to two children ages 1 to 10. The primary goals for Chi Hullo Li program participants are to eliminate substance use and abuse, improve social functioning, build strong families, and develop a comprehensive support network within one's family and community.

     One of the major goals of our behavioral health programs is to both treat and educate clients about their illness so they can lead healthier lives. This is achieved in the therapeutic process by counseling with the individual and family about self and/or medication management of the condition, as well as by attempts to connect the client to community resources for long term encouragement and support. Our therapists and social workers can aid in securing community assistance and developing an external support system.
     Without a doubt, the need for quality behavioral health services continues to grow across America and in southeastern Oklahoma every day. The Department of Behavioral Health will continue to evolve with and meet the needs of individuals and communities in order to aid in the development of a better Choctaw Nation and healthier people.