How do I find mental health crisis services near me?

NAMI is focused on reimagining crisis response across our country — ensuring that every person in crisis receives a humane response that connects them to appropriate and timely care. Visit NAMI’s 988: Reimagining Crisis Response webpage to learn more.

If you or a loved one live with a serious mental health condition, it can help to get familiar with the crisis services in your area before a mental health crisis happens. Mental health crisis services include someone to contact, someone to respond, and a safe place for help.

Types of Mental Health Crisis Services

Someone to Contact: trained crisis counselors available 24/7 to help people experiencing a mental health crisis or those concerned about someone experiencing a mental health crisis.

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7 support for mental health crises via call, text, or chat. Call or text 988, or visit https://chat.988lifeline.org/.
Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7, text-based mental health support and crisis intervention. Text HOME to 741741 or visit https://connect.crisistextline.org/chat.
Trevor Lifeline provides 24/7 crisis intervention and suicide prevention services for LGBTQ youth & young adults ages 13–24. Call the Trevor Lifeline at (866) 488-7386, text “START” to 678-678, or visit https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/.
Local Crisis Lines: many counties around the country maintained the crisis line numbers they had before the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline was created. These lines may be part of the 988 network of call centers but can also be reached directly when you dial their number.

Someone to Respond: people who can respond in a mental health crisis to assess the situation and connect the individual to community services and supports.

Mobile Crisis Units (MCUs), also called Mobile Crisis Teams, are a mental health emergency service offered by many (but not all) counties across the nation to provide on-scene evaluation, treatment, and crisis intervention in the community. An MCU will travel to where you are, work with you to assess your needs, and identify the most appropriate treatment options.
Crisis Intervention Trained (CIT) police officers are specially trained to respond to mental health crises. If you must contact law enforcement because there are no mobile crisis services in your community or because the crisis involves serious, imminent risk of harm, consider asking if there is a CIT officer who can respond.

A Safe Place for Help: emergency and crisis stabilization services that provide on-demand crisis care in a variety of community settings.

Hospital emergency departments and psychiatric emergency departments are places where people can go in a mental health crisis for an emergency mental health evaluation and admittance for inpatient hospitalization, when necessary.
Crisis Stabilization Units (CSUs) or psychiatric stabilization units are small, inpatient facilities of less than 16 beds for individuals experiencing a psychiatric crisis. CSUs offer structure, support, and counseling to help a person stabilize their symptoms and quickly get back into the community. CSUs can be an alternative to hospitalization or a step-down from inpatient hospitalization.
Behavioral Health Urgent Care (BHUC) offers a safe, voluntary alternative to a hospital emergency department or more intensive crisis services to address the needs of people experiencing mental health crises. BHUCs provide time-limited, targeted, outpatient services and supports. They may also help with medication management and connect people with longer-term treatment options.
Peer Crisis Respite provides short-term residential services and peer support to individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis. These centers are run by trained peer support providers who have lived experience with and recovery from behavioral health conditions.

How to Find Crisis Services Near You

Call 211. Ask the operator what mental health crisis services exist in your area. Remember to use the terms listed above, like “mobile crisis team” and “crisis stabilization unit” to ask whether these services are available near you.
Connect with your local NAMI. Local NAMI Affiliate staff are often knowledgeable about the mental health crisis services in that community. Local mental health crisis services may also be listed on your local NAMI Affiliate website.
Visit your county's health department webpage or community behavioral health agency webpage. Many counties have a comprehensive list of crisis services, which may include a county-run crisis line number for you to call.
Call 988. When you call 988 for help in a crisis, they may connect you directly with mental health crisis services like MCUs. You can also ask what emergency evaluation and stabilization resources are available in your area.
Conduct an online search. Search “mental health crisis services in [city] [state]” to find other mental health crisis services near you.
Call your non-emergency police number. Ask your local law enforcement if there are Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) officers who can respond in a mental health crisis. Note down the non-emergency number or other contact information you may use to get in touch with your local law enforcement if you need their assistance in an urgent mental health crisis.

You’ve taken a great first step by learning about and locating mental health crisis services near you. For more support planning ahead for a mental health crisis, visit NAMI’s Navigating a Mental Health Crisis Guide.

Hours of operation: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. EST

Call: 800-950-NAMI (6264)

Text: 62640

Email: helpline@nami.org

Website: www.nami.org/help