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About the Department of Mental Health
The Department of Mental Health (DMH) was established as a Cabinet-level department in 2001. The agency provides comprehensive mental health services to adults, children, youths, and their families. DMH also evaluates and treats individuals referred through the criminal justice system. DMH's structure and operations are detailed in the "Final Court-Ordered Plan,"* March 28, 2001, and the "Mental Health Service Delivery Reform Act of 2001."*
DMH serves more than 7,500 people annually through the DMH Community Services Agency and other community-based mental health service providers under contract to the agency. Inpatient services, whether acute, long-term, or forensic, are provided at Saint Elizabeths Hospital. The DMH Community Services Agency provides routine, urgent, and emergency mental health rehabilitation services at mental health centers in Northeast, Northwest, and Southeast Washington.
Our Mission
The goal of the Department of Mental Health is to develop, support, and oversee a comprehensive, community-based, consumer-driven, culturally competent, quality mental health system. This system should be responsive and accessible to children, youths, adults, and their families. It should leverage continuous positive change through its ability to learn and to partner. It should also ensure that mental health providers are accountable to consumers and offer services that promote recovery from mental illness.
Our Vision
DMH strives to provide a dynamic, innovative, outcome-oriented mental health system for the residents of the District of Columbia. We want to maximize consumer choice, offer flexible and responsive services, and partner with competent mental health providers committed to providing quality care.
Select from the following links for more information about DMH.
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