NAMI Kanawha Valley

Mental Health · West Virginia · Free

Local National Alliance on Mental Illness affiliate serving the Charleston area and surrounding Kanawha Valley. Offers free peer-led support groups, family education classes, and community outreach for fathers and family members coping with mental health conditions. Meeting schedules vary; contact by phone for upcoming dates and locations. All groups are free and confidential, and no diagnosis or insurance is required to attend.

Contact & Details

Address: Charleston, WV 25301

Phone: 304-342-0497

Hours: Varies by meeting

About Mental Health for Fathers

Mental health services in the US range from free crisis lines and public community mental health centers to private therapy and inpatient care. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline operates 24/7 nationwide and is free and confidential. SAMHSA's National Helpline (1-800-662-HELP) connects callers with local treatment resources for mental health and substance use. Community Mental Health Centers exist in every state and serve people regardless of ability to pay, usually on sliding-scale fees. Medicaid covers mental health care in all states, and the ACA requires insurance plans to cover mental health at parity with medical care. Fathers are particularly at risk for undiagnosed depression, anxiety, and substance issues around separation and custody disputes — this directory surfaces crisis lines, low-cost therapy, support groups specifically for men, and state mental health authorities.

Mental Health in West Virginia

West Virginia Family Court is a statewide unified system handling divorce, custody, and child support. The Bureau for Child Support Enforcement operates under DHHR. Charleston, Huntington, Parkersburg, and Morgantown are the largest cities. Legal Aid of West Virginia is the statewide LSC-funded civil legal aid program.

More Mental Health in West Virginia

  • NAMI West Virginia — Statewide affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness offering education, peer support groups, and advocacy for West Virginians liv
  • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – WV — Free, confidential 24/7 crisis support line staffed by trained counselors who can help fathers and family members in emotional distress, tho
  • Valley HealthCare System – Morgantown — Community behavioral health provider serving north central West Virginia with outpatient therapy, psychiatric medication management, crisis
  • Westbrook Health Services – Parkersburg — Community behavioral health center serving the Mid-Ohio Valley with mental health counseling, psychiatric services, and substance-abuse trea
  • Southern Highlands Mental Health — Behavioral health center serving southern West Virginia counties including Mercer, McDowell, and Monroe. Provides outpatient counseling, psy
  • Potomac Highlands Guild – Keyser — Community behavioral health center serving the Potomac Highlands region of West Virginia, including Mineral, Grant, Hardy, Hampshire, and Pe

Mental Health — Common Questions

I'm in crisis right now — who do I call?
Dial or text 988 — the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, free and confidential, 24/7 nationwide. Veterans press 1. For non-crisis mental health support, call SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
How do I find a therapist I can afford?
Community Mental Health Centers (every state has them) charge on sliding-scale based on income. Medicaid covers therapy in all states. Private insurance must cover mental health at parity with medical care. Psychology Today's therapist finder lets you filter by insurance. Open Path Collective offers
0–$80 sessions.
Can therapy hurt my custody case?
Almost always no — judges view voluntarily-sought mental health treatment as responsible parenting. Therapists must keep sessions confidential (with narrow exceptions: child abuse disclosure, imminent self-harm). Court-ordered evaluations are different from voluntary therapy.
Is there support specifically for men?
Yes. Face It Foundation, HeadsUpGuys, Men's Sheds, and Man Therapy run men-focused programs. Many community mental health centers run men-only groups. Fatherhood programs often include peer support as part of their model.