Psychiatric Access Line for Montana Providers
No-cost consultations for Montana-based providers caring for patients who are pregnant, postpartum, or aged 0-21.
No-Cost Services for Providers
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Get clarity and confidence to diagnose and treat your patients with the support of our psychiatrists and licensed clinical social workers without having to send your patient out for a referral with a long wait time.
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Confidentially discuss patient cases to determine the best treatment plan and medication options for a variety of mental health conditions and substance use disorders.
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Get referrals and recommendations for specialized behavioral health treatment and other community-based resources like peer support groups, housing support, or education.
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MTPAL can provide one-time initial psychiatric evaluations of patients in especially complex cases. Following initial evaluation, MTPAL is available to support the primary provider in further case management.
HOW TO ACCESS
Step 1
Providers caring for those who are pregnant or postpartum OR youth ages 0-21 can call 844-406-8725 to consult with a Psychiatrist from Frontier Psychiatry during daytime business hours: Monday-Friday from 8 AM - 5 PM.
*Online e-consult requests are also available for providers serving pregnant and post-partum patients.
Step 2
A Frontier Clinic Care Coordinator will screen and triage calls to ensure they are appropriate for the line and ask the caller to provide demographics, contact information, and a summary of the consultation request.
Step 3
A Psychiatrist will return your call within approximately 30 minutes.
ABOUT MTPAL
PRISM x MAPP-NET
Montana's PRISM Perinatal Psychiatric Consultation Line and Montana Access to Pediatric Psychiatry Network The Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) Health Resources Division (HRD) PRISM Perinatal Psychiatric Consultation Line and DPHHS Early Childhood and Family Support Division (ECFSD) Montana Access to Pediatric Psychiatry Network (MAPP-NET) have partnered to create and launch one combined free, statewide psychiatric consultation line.
MTPAL integrates behavioral health into maternal and pediatric primary care by supporting providers through teleconsultation and education to diagnose, treat, and refer perinatal patients, postpartum patients, and children with behavioral health conditions in Montana. The program aims to achieve health equity and outcomes related to racial, ethnic, and geographic disparities in access to care.
Meet the Team
MTPAL is staffed by the team at Frontier Psychiatry, a leading telepsychiatry provider created in 2019 by passionate psychiatrists who believe that every community deserves access to great psychiatric care and addiction care.
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Adult & Perinatal PsychiatristDr. Verlage is a Board Certified General Adult Psychiatrist. After finishing her undergraduate education at Harvard University and medical school training at the Ohio State University College of Medicine, she completed her residency at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. During residency she completed the Women’s Mental Health track which included specialized training in helping with psychiatric needs related to pregnancy, the postpartum period, infertility, pregnancy loss, pre-menstrual syndromes, and peri-menopause.
During residency, Dr. Verlage received awards for teaching and patient case formulation. After residency she continued with UT Southwestern Medical Center as an Assistant Professor and worked as an emergency psychiatrist at Parkland Memorial Hospital, the busiest emergency department in the United States. Currently she works as an Adult Psychiatrist at Frontier Psychiatry.
Dr. Verlage believes in empowering patients throughout their mental health journey. She strives to ensure that patients and families understand their symptoms, treatment options, and what to expect from treatment with medications.
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Child & Adult PsychiatristDr. Swathi Krishna is dual board-certified in general psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry. Dr. Krishna works with child, adolescents, and young adult and her treatment modalities include medication management, holistic treatments, cognitive behavioral therapy, and mindfulness.
Dr. Krishna collaborates with patients to create attainable goals and treatment plans that incorporate both the mind and body.
Swathi completed her general psychiatry residency at Morehouse School of Medicine and her child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at Emory School of Medicine. She is also an alumnus Minority Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and has worked on special projects for mental health innovation through the APA and Stanford University.
MTPAL for Moms Learning Hub
Each month, our expert hub publishes didactics to empower clinicians in evidence-based best practices in the care and treatment of pregnant and postpartum patients who have mental health concerns. All trainings are presented free of charge to Montana healthcare professionals.
Simply sign up below to join our list and access the first two trainings
Understanding Perinatal Mental Health: Prevalence, Risks, and Impacts
The Untreated Crisis: Consequences of Ignoring Perinatal Mental Health
2025 Perinatal & Pediatric Mental Health Symposium
March 18-19
Great Northern Hotel
Helena, MT
Join us in person for the Perinatal & Pediatric Mental Health Symposium - in collaboration with the University of Montana. Our 2-day conference features expert speakers, diverse panels, and specialty topics including: Addressing Top Pediatric Mental Health Disorders, Medication Management for Perinatal Depression, SBIRT Training, Trauma Treatment in Children 0-5, Hidden Bias, and much more.
Get more information on registration, sponsorship, agenda, and lodging from the symposium website below.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Any Montana clinician who is caring for the mental health of pregnant people, people in the postpartum period, or youth from age 0-21 is welcome to utilize the MTPAL consultation line. This may include but is not limited to medical doctors, doctor of osteopathics, midwives, obstetric providers, primary care providers, pediatricians, psychiatric providers, psychologists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, medical assistants, care coordinators, and social workers.
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The MTPAL program is a comprehensive initiative designed to enhance the capability of health care providers in both maternal and pediatric settings. For mothers, it focuses on expanding providers' capacity to screen, assess, treat, and refer patients for maternal mental health and substance use disorders during or after pregnancy, ensuring holistic care for maternal well-being. Simultaneously, MTPAL for Children aims to integrate behavioral health into pediatric primary care, utilizing telehealth modalities to offer high-quality and timely detection, assessment, treatment, and referral for children and adolescents with behavioral health conditions. Both facets of the program emphasize the use of evidence-based practices and methods, striving to deliver effective and accessible health care for mothers and their children.
Training and Education for Treatment
Telehealth Consultation and Referral
Resource for Healthcare Professionals
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MTPAL is for professional healthcare providers only.
If you are a patient looking for mental health support or psychiatry, please tell your provider about MTPAL or feel free to check out our other resources available. MTPAL does not offer crisis services. If you are in need of immediate assistance, please call 911 or use these resources.
Patient Resources Available
Frontier Psychiatry:
National Maternal Mental Health Hotline:
24/7, free confidential support
Call or text 1-833-852-6262
Montana LIFTS Warmline:
Montana Suicide Prevention Lifeline:
Veteran Crisis Line:
1-800-273-TALK (8255), then press 1
National Hope Line:
National Domestic Violence Hotline:
Montana Domestic Violence Resources:
Contact us.
CALL: 844-406-8725