Southern Iowa Mental Health Center: Home I
Behavioral Health • Ottumwa, IA • Since 1965 • 1 primary location locations
About
Southern Iowa Mental Health Center is a nonprofit mental health and substance use treatment provider founded in 1965 and based in Ottumwa, Iowa (HQ at 1527 Albia Rd in Ottumwa). Services include therapy, substance abuse treatment, medication management, and integrated health home services, plus crisis and community support options (e.g., crisis line, mobile crisis response, crisis stabilization, and various residential/subacute services). The center operates four offices across Iowa (Ottumwa and Oskaloosa area) and maintains an active status with about 9 employees and annual revenue in the $1–5 million range. Contact and location details are available on their site simhcottumwa.org, with multiple regional email addresses for outreach.
Clinic Type
Behavioral Health
Address
8628+ (address not fully specified on page)
Phone
641-682-8772
Simhc@SimhcOttumwa.org
Opening Hours
Mon–Fri 8am–5pm (after-hours: 24/7 crisis line at 641-682-8772)
Website
Telehealth
Telehealth mental health treatment (listed in extras)
Emergency Care
Mobile Crisis Team (MCT) available; 24/7 crisis response
Services Offered
Technology & Equipment
Team
Insurance & Payment
We accept most insurance plans including Medicare, Medicaid, Blue Cross, United Health Care and others
sliding fee scale, cash, credit/debit, insurance, patient assistance, co-pay
Financing: sliding fee scale (patient assistance) with income-based discounts; no one denied access due to inability to pay
Savings plan: sliding fee scale based on family size and income
Languages Spoken
Pricing
FAQs
Do you require a referral?
No, we do not require a referral.
Is a referral required to start services?
No referral required.
What insurance plans are accepted?
Most including Medicare, Medicaid, Blue Cross, United Health Care and others.
What are the hours of operation?
Outpatient clinic open Mon–Fri, 8am–5pm.
Commitments
Awards & Accreditations
Photos
What Patients Say
Overall sentiment across review platforms: mixed
- Birdeye: 2.5/5 (37)
- Recovered.org: 3.85/5 (TrustScore) (Not explicitly specified; based on aggregate data)
Patients praise
- Focus on accessibility regardless of financial status, including sliding scale fees and options for uninsured individuals
- Supportive and empathetic internal workplace environment reported by some staff
- Staff noted as kind by some patients
Common complaints
- Accessibility concerns, specifically related to appointment availability and responsiveness to communication
- Harsh treatment by administrators in specific cases reported by families
- Concerns regarding staff attentiveness and professionalism
"These people scarcely ever make themselves available. They usually do not even answer phone messages left."
— Birdeye review"Our family member was treated harshly by the administrators of SIMH. They made her mental health worse through their poor handling of a situation..."
— Yelp review"Staff all very kind..."
— Mahaska Health patient review quoteSynthesized from public review platforms as of Jul 11, 2026 — sources: [1][2][3][4].
In the News
- Ribbon cutting held for Southern Iowa Mental Health Center | News | albianews.com — Dec 4, 2025
- Mental health center opens “care closet” for patients in need — Oct 15, 2025
- Primary care clinic closures worsen mental health care access in Wapello County — Mar 27, 2026
- April K. Davis - Clinical Social Worker in Ottumwa, IA — May 14, 2026
- Primary care clinic closures worsen mental health care access in Wapello County — Mar 27, 2026
Information sourced from the clinic's website as of July 11, 2026.
More behavioral health clinics in Ottumwa
Ottumwa Regional Health Center in Ottumwa, IA offers a full range of behavioral health and related services as part of its medical and surgical care. While the page highlights general hospital services (emergency, critical care, obstetrics, pediatrics, cardiology, oncology, etc.), it lists a broad health system focus rather than detailing a dedicated behavioral health program. If you’re specifically seeking behavioral health for Ottumwa, you should contact the center directly at 641-684-2300 or visit ottumwaregionalhealth.com for current offerings, programs, and locations in Southeast Iowa.
River Hills Community Health Center (RHCHC) is a nonprofit health system serving southeastern Iowa. Founded in 2000 and based in Centerville, it operates five locations in Ottumwa, Centerville, Richland, Oskaloosa, and Fairfield. RHCHC offers comprehensive care across multiple disciplines: family practice, pediatrics, gynecology/women’s health, behavioral health, general dentistry, and telehealth, with pharmacy and outreach prevention services. The organization emphasizes teamwork to improve patient outcomes and operates as a nonprofit with about 16 employees and annual revenue around $18.8 million. Key leadership includes CEO Joy Fullenkamp Alexander and Director of Clinical Quality Molly Layton. Open roles include a Controller. Contact and location details are available via their website.
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