If you, a family member, or a friend are in need of help, here are a list of resources you can use.
Note that all resources are for informational purposes only. The list is not comprehensive, and links
are not affiliated or endorsed. Click on the resources below to learn more
Dial 911
In an emergency, dial 911 for immediate crisis help.
If you dial 911, make sure to be specific about the crisis and provide as much information as possible
so officers can respond appropriately. Emphasize that it is a mental health crisis. Request a CIT
(Crisis Intervention Team) officer if available. For more information about when/what to dial 911, look
into this
RedDot article.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness NAMI,
the police can help someone voluntarily go to the hospital for help or force someone to involuntarily
get a mental health evaluation at the hospital (varies from state to state).
Keep in mind that 911 may not fit your exact situation. According to PEW
research,
your local 911 dispatch may not be properly equipped to handle mental health crises and often result in
law enforcement response. As mentioned above, this could result in involuntary hospitalization or
transportation to a psychiatric ward. There are also local non-emergency lines. You can find your
closest one in this
directory.
Dial 988
988 is the suicide and crisis lifeline. It’s the new number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
This line will connect you to trained counselors that will “listen, understand how [caller’s] problems
are affecting them, provide support, and connect [callers] to resources if necessary (Lifeline).
For more information, look into SAMHSA’s FAQ
page.
It’s also important to note that certain calls to 988 can be routed to 911 (SAMHSA states this occurs
only to a small percentage). In that case, it’s possible that law enforcement will respond. This could
result in involuntary intervention with concerns mentioned under the “Dial 911” section. That’s why some
mental health advocates recommend calling warmlines, less intrusive numbers you can call for help in
non-emergencies. Here is a warmline
directory
resource.
Lifeline Chat
988’s website has a lifeline chat built into its web for free and confidential support.
Text 741741
Text “HELLO” or “HOME” to 741741 to get support from a trained crisis counselor.
Dial 1-(800)-622-HELP (4357)
Dial 1-(800)-622-HELP for SAMHSA’s (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) national
helpline for free, confidential support.
Warm Lines
Call warm lines, which you can find through
this
directory or
this one, for
non-emergency, early intervention.
Warm lines are ‘peer-run’ and will connect callers to a listening line of people who are also in mental
health recovery. They’ll allow you to speak and receive support, confidentially and for free.
Some warm lines are only available during set hours. Some warm lines may also only let you speak for a
certain time limit (like an hour). Others are available 24/7 and have unlimited call times.
Don't Call the Police
dontcallthepolice.com has many resources to find alternatives that aren't the police in times of need. They also include city/region specific resources.
Bicycle Health for Opioid Use Disorder
According to Bicycle Health,
“People who misuse prescription opioids have between 40% and 60% greater
odds of suicidal thoughts. ”Learn more about OUD here.
Bicycle Health provides Medication for Addiction Treatment online for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD)
for a monthly fee.
To find out more see here