What Is Behavioral Health? Meaning, Services and How to Get Help
You may have seen the term “behavioral health” on an insurance card, a clinic website or a doctor’s referral. It sounds like mental health, but it is not always the same thing. This guide explains what behavioral health means in plain words, how it differs from mental health, what services it covers, how the levels of care work and how to get help.
By the U Heal Life editorial team. Last updated: November 2026. This is general information, not medical, legal or insurance advice. We are not licensed clinicians.
Quick answer: Behavioral health is a broad term for how our thoughts, feelings, habits and actions affect our wellbeing. It includes mental health, substance use and the support, prevention and treatment that go with them. The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) uses it to cover both mental health conditions and substance use disorders. Care ranges from weekly therapy to hospital care, and most US health plans must treat these benefits comparably to medical care.
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What Does Behavioral Health Mean?
Behavioral health looks at the link between what we do (our behaviors and habits) and how we feel and function. It includes mental health, which SAMHSA describes as emotional, psychological and social wellbeing. It also includes substance use and other behavior-related concerns. Experts do not agree on exact edges, and different groups define the term a little differently, so you may see it used in different ways.
Behavioral health care is not only for crises. It also includes prevention, early support and ongoing care.
Behavioral Health vs Mental Health
| Mental health | Behavioral health | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Emotional, psychological and social wellbeing | Mental health plus behaviors, habits and substance use |
| Usually includes | Conditions such as anxiety or depression, stress and coping | Mental health care, substance use treatment and support for harmful habits |
| Common use | Everyday talk about wellbeing | Clinics, hospitals and insurance plans |
Many clinics use the two terms almost the same way. If a program says “behavioral health,” ask what exactly it covers.
What Behavioral Health Services Include
- Therapy and counseling for individuals, couples, families and groups
- Psychiatric care and medication management
- Substance use treatment and recovery support
- Screenings and assessments, often in a primary care office
- Crisis services, including phone, text and mobile teams
- Peer support, case management and community programs
Who Provides It?
Common providers include psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, licensed professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychiatrists and primary care teams. Titles and rules differ by state. Read how to find a therapist for tips on checking licenses and fit.
Levels of Care
Behavioral health care is organized in levels, from lighter to more intensive. A professional usually decides the right level after an assessment. Programs and insurers may define them a little differently.
| Level | How it works |
|---|---|
| Outpatient | Regular visits, often weekly, while you live at home |
| Intensive outpatient (IOP) | Structured treatment several days a week for a few hours, while you live at home |
| Partial hospitalization (PHP) | Intensive day treatment, often most of the day for several days a week, then you go home at night |
| Residential | A 24-hour supervised treatment setting |
| Inpatient hospital care | Short-term hospital care, often for crisis and safety, then a step down to a lower level |
Many people move between levels over time.
How Insurance Treats Behavioral Health
Under the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, most group health plans and individual plans that cover mental health or substance use benefits must apply comparable rules to them as to medical and surgical care. That includes copays, deductibles and visit limits. Under the Affordable Care Act, individual and small group plans must include these benefits. Plans can still use medical necessity rules, and some plans are exempt.
If you are denied, you can ask your plan for the standards it uses and for an explanation. Our guides can help: does health insurance cover therapy, does Medicare cover therapy and does Medicaid cover therapy.
How to Get Started
- Check your coverage. Call your insurer or look at your plan documents
- Look at free benefits. See what an Employee Assistance Program is
- Search for providers through your plan, directories or the SAMHSA treatment locator
- Ask about cost. See how much therapy costs without insurance and free and low-cost options
- Book a first visit and ask what level of care fits you
When to Get Help Right Away
If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 in the US, or call your local emergency number. SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 offers free, confidential referrals 24 hours a day.
Frequently Asked Questions About Behavioral Health
What does behavioral health mean?
It is a broad term for how our habits, behaviors and mental state affect our wellbeing, including mental health and substance use care.
Is behavioral health the same as mental health?
They overlap, and some clinics use them almost the same way. Behavioral health is usually wider and includes substance use and behaviors.
What does a behavioral health professional do?
It is a general term for licensed providers who assess concerns and provide therapy, counseling, treatment planning or medication management, depending on their training.
Does insurance cover behavioral health?
Often yes, and most plans must treat these benefits comparably to medical care, but coverage details vary by plan.
How do I find behavioral health services near me?
Start with your insurer, your employer’s benefits and the SAMHSA treatment locator, then call providers to confirm fees and availability.
Helpful resource: SAMHSA shares information on mental health and substance use services.
Related Reading
- How to Find a Therapist
- Does Health Insurance Cover Therapy?
- Free and Low-Cost Therapy Options in the USA
- What Is an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)?
- How Much Does Therapy Cost Without Insurance?
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not medical, mental health, legal or insurance advice. Rules, services and availability change, so please confirm details with your plan, the official source or a licensed provider. If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 (the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in the US) or your local emergency number right away.