N-SUMHSS FAQs final

N SUMHSS
NATIONAL SUBSTANCE USE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES SURVEY

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
202X National Substance Use and Mental Health Services Survey (N-SUMHSS)

What is the N-SUMHSS?
What is the N-SUMHSS? The N-SUMHSS is SAMHSA's annual survey of all active substance use and mental health
facilities in the United States and its jurisdictions. General topics include services that your facility provides and
summary-level information about clients you have treated.
Where can I get help or learn more about N-SUMHSS? The N-SUMHSS has its own website at
https://info.nsumhss.samhsa.gov. There you can find information such as a PDF copy of the questionnaire, client
counts worksheet, frequently asked questions (FAQs), definitions and online tips for completing the survey. The
N-SUMHSS helpdesk contact information is also on that website. You can always email [email protected]
or call (833) 302-1759 if you have any questions or are having trouble finding information on the website.
Who is ICF? The N-SUMHSS is conducted by ICF, an independent survey research company headquartered in
Virginia. ICF will send out survey invitations and reminders for the online survey. If you have any questions about the
N-SUMHSS, you can reach out to ICF at (833) 302-1759 or [email protected]. The N-SUMHSS survey is
legitimate, and it is sponsored by SAMHSA. If you have any concerns, your state substance use I mental health agency
can also confirm the legitimacy of this survey.
Can we still be listed on FindTreatment.gov? Yes! As before, all responding facilities may choose to be listed on
FindTreatment.gov (https://findtreatment.gov). And if you would like to participate but do not want your facility to be
listed on FindTreatment.gov, you can specify that preference towards the end of the survey.
Will our answers from last year carry forward to this year? Yes! If you responded to the 202X N-SUMHSS, your
previous responses will be pre-filled online in the 202X N-SUMHSS. You will only need to verify or update your answers if
anything changed.

Where did you get my facility's information? Is this mandatory?
How did you get my facility's information? How do you know which facilities are in my organization? As with past
years, your state's or jurisdiction's department of substance use or mental health provided SAMHSA with a list of all known
facilities. This list also included information about which facilities are part of your organization.
Is this survey mandatory? Your participation is voluntary, but it is very important that you respond so that your facility
and the populations you serve are represented. No two facilities are alike. The N-SUMHSS is the most comprehensive
source of substance use and mental health treatment data in the country. Local, state, and federal policymakers use these
data to understand treatment availability and identify gaps in our nation's treatment landscape. Although participation is
voluntary, only responding facilities will have the option of being listed on FindTreatment.gov (https://findtreatment.gov),
an important tool to help make more people aware of your services, and potentially help reach clients and underserved
populations in your community that you weren't reaching before.
Who will see my facility's data? How will my data be protected? Only SAMHSA and their contractors will have access
to your survey responses. Your facility's survey can only be accessed by using your login information. Once you enter data
into the online survey tool, ICF's system automatically encrypts the data for storage. The survey data is securely stored
within ICF's and SAMHSA's servers and only specific project staff are able to access these data.

What types of facilities should participate?
We don't provide substance use or mental health treatment at this location. Do we still need to participate?
Yes, we still need to hear from you to update our records, but you only need to answer a few questions.
We provide services related to substance use and mental health treatment, but not treatment itself. Should we
respond? Please answer the initial eligibility screening questions in the questionnaire so that we can capture this information
about your facility. That will ensure that we don't bother you again with reminders or requests. For this survey, only facilities
that offer treatment need to complete the entire questionnaire. For example, if your facility or company only provides
transportation to and from treatment or provides referrals for treatment, you will have very few questions to answer.