Crisis Help Without Police
Safety first, dignity always, connection wherever possible.
Alternatives to 911, police and involuntary holds: crisis lines, mobile crisis teams that come to you, local numbers, and harm reduction services.
When to call 911
- Someone is unconscious, not breathing, or has overdosed. Give naloxone if you have it, then call 911.
- There is a weapon or someone is being hurt right now.
- A medical emergency: seizure, chest pain, serious injury, sudden confusion with fever.
If you do call 911:
- Say it is a mental health crisis and ask for a crisis-trained (CIT) officer or a mobile crisis team.
- Say whether the person is armed or not, and that they are not a danger to others if that is true.
- Share diagnoses, medications and what helps calm them.
Call or text before calling 911
These lines can talk someone through a crisis and, in many areas, send a mobile crisis team instead of police.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 98824/7, free. Ask whether a mobile crisis team can come out in your area.
988 chat
988lifeline.org/chatFor people who cannot or do not want to talk on the phone.
Veterans Crisis Line
Dial 988, then press 1For veterans, service members and their families.
Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741Text with a trained crisis counselor.
Trans Lifeline
877-565-8860Peer support run by trans people. They do not call police without consent.
The Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ youth)
1-866-488-738624/7 support for LGBTQ+ young people.
Local numbers: South Carolina and North Carolina
Mobile crisis teams are mental health workers who come to you. Availability varies by county, so ask when you call.
SC Mobile Crisis (SC Dept. of Mental Health)
1-833-364-227424/7 statewide mobile crisis line in South Carolina.
NC mobile crisis and Hope4NC
988 or 1-855-587-3463In North Carolina, 988 connects to local mobile crisis. Hope4NC offers free crisis counseling.
Alcohol/Drug Council of North Carolina
1-800-688-4232Free information and referral for alcohol and drug concerns anywhere in North Carolina. Listed on the official NCDHHS hotlines page.
NC community crisis centers (NCDHHS)
Find your county's centerOfficial NCDHHS list of walk-in crisis centers across North Carolina. Most are open 24/7, no appointment needed, and they are an alternative to the emergency room.
211 (any state)
Dial 211Finds local mobile crisis teams, crisis stabilization units, shelters and food.
Warmlines (any state)
Find a warmlinePeer-run lines for when you need to talk but it is not an emergency.
Local numbers: more states
States with one statewide crisis number are listed first. In every other state, call or text 988 and ask for a mobile crisis team, or use the official link to find your county's line. Coverage varies by county.
Georgia Crisis & Access Line (GCAL)
1-800-715-422524/7 statewide. Dispatches mobile crisis teams and finds open crisis or detox beds.
Massachusetts Mobile Crisis Intervention
1-877-382-160924/7 statewide. Enter your zip code and a local team can come to you, often within an hour.
Colorado Crisis Services
1-844-493-8255 or text TALK to 3825524/7 statewide line, walk-in crisis centers and mobile teams.
Connecticut crisis line
1-800-467-3135 or 21124/7 statewide (1-800-HOPE-135). Mobile crisis teams for adults and children.
Delaware Crisis Intervention
Northern DE 800-652-2929, Southern DE 800-345-678524/7 state-run crisis lines with mobile response.
Arizona statewide crisis line
1-844-534-467324/7. Crisis services are available to anyone in Arizona, with or without insurance.
Maine Crisis Line
1-888-568-111224/7 statewide. Can dispatch a regional mobile crisis team to your location.
Alaska Careline
1-877-266-435724/7 statewide crisis line for Alaska.
Tennessee mobile crisis
Call or text 988, then press 0Mobile crisis teams cover all 95 counties, for adults and children.
New York City: NYC Well
1-888-692-9355 or text WELL to 6517324/7 for NYC. Outside the city, call 988 to reach your county crisis line.
Maryland
Call or text 988, or dial 211 and press 1Connects to local crisis services and mobile teams statewide.
Washington: county crisis lines
Find your county lineEvery county has a 24-hour crisis line with mobile outreach; the state lists them all.
Texas: county crisis lines
Find your county lineEach county has a 24/7 local crisis hotline with face-to-face response. The state lists them all.
Florida: crisis and mobile response teams
Florida Health crisis linksMobile response is organized by county. The state lists local crisis lines and services; or call 988.
Pennsylvania
Call or text 988Every county is required to have 24/7 crisis services, including mobile teams. 988 routes you locally.
Alabama county crisis lines
Find your county lineThe Alabama Department of Mental Health lists 24/7 crisis numbers by county.
Arkansas Lifeline Call Center
Call or text 988Arkansas's own 988 call center answers statewide and can connect callers with local crisis services.
California county mental health crisis lines
Find your county lineEvery California county mental health department has a 24/7 crisis line; use the state directory for your county.
DC Access HelpLine
1-888-793-435724/7 District line staffed by behavioral health professionals; can activate adult and child mobile crisis teams.
Hawai‘i CARES direct line
808-832-3100 or 1-800-753-6879Direct access to Hawai‘i CARES, the statewide service answering 988. Use the toll-free number from a non-808 number.
Idaho community crisis centers
Find your regional centerThe state lists 24/7 adult community crisis centers and explains when 988 can send a mobile response team.
Illinois CARES Hotline
1-800-345-904924/7 statewide crisis line. Staff assess whether mobile crisis response is available and appropriate.
988 Indiana
Call or text 988Indiana's 988 system connects callers with trained specialists and local mobile crisis teams where available.
Your Life Iowa
855-581-8111 or text 855-895-839824/7 statewide Iowa support for mental health, substance use, gambling and suicide concerns.
Kansas Family Mobile Crisis Helpline
Call, text or chat 1-833-441-224024/7 statewide help for Kansans age 20 and younger and their families, with local mobile response. Adults should call 988.
Kentucky 988
Call or text 988Kentucky's 988 network has 14 in-state call centers and connects callers with local mobile response providers when needed.
Louisiana 988
Call or text 988Louisiana's statewide 988 specialists provide free, confidential 24/7 support and local referrals.
Michigan Crisis and Access Line (MiCAL)
Call or text 988MiCAL is Michigan's central crisis line answering 988 calls and coordinating local crisis care.
Minnesota county and Tribal Nation crisis lines
Find your local lineThe state lists adult mental health crisis response numbers for every county and Tribal Nation.
Mississippi Mobile Crisis Response Teams
Find your region's lineMobile crisis teams cover all 82 counties; the state list gives each region's around-the-clock number.
Missouri 988 crisis centers
Call or text 988Seven Missouri crisis centers answer 988 and can dispatch local mobile crisis response teams.
Montana local crisis lines
Find your regional lineThe state lists 988 plus regional crisis lines for Montana communities.
Nebraska Family Helpline
1-888-866-866024/7 statewide help for children's behavioral and mental health concerns; adults should call 988.
Crisis Support Services of Nevada
775-784-809024/7 Nevada crisis counseling listed by the state Office of Suicide Prevention. Children can also use the state mobile crisis numbers.
New Hampshire Rapid Response
Call or text 833-710-647724/7 statewide behavioral health crisis line that can connect callers with mobile crisis teams.
New Jersey psychiatric screening centers
Find your county centerThe state lists each county's designated 24-hour psychiatric emergency and crisis screening service.
New Mexico Crisis and Access Line
1-855-662-747424/7 statewide line staffed by licensed behavioral health clinicians.
North Dakota 988 and mobile crisis
Call or text 988North Dakota 988 connects callers with state behavioral health clinics, mobile crisis teams and 24/7 crisis facilities.
Ohio 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988Ohio's 19 Lifeline providers answer 988 calls and connect callers with local crisis services.
Oklahoma 988 Mental Health Lifeline
Call or text 988Oklahoma 988 connects callers with local resources and can dispatch mobile crisis teams.
Oregon county crisis lines
Find your county lineThe Oregon Health Authority lists local crisis lines alongside 988 and other statewide supports.
Rhode Island BH Link
Call or text 988Rhode Island directs adults in a mental health or substance-use crisis to BH Link through 988. BH Link is open 24/7.
South Dakota 988
Call or text 988South Dakota 988 is answered by local Helpline Center professionals and is available 24/7.
Utah Crisis Line
801-587-300024/7 statewide crisis help through Huntsman Mental Health Institute; also answers Utah 988 calls.
Vermont 988 and local crisis lines
Call or text 988Vermont 988 connects to 24/7 support; the state's community mental health agencies also operate local crisis lines.
Virginia 988 and crisis services
Call or text 988Virginia 988 is the entry point for 24/7 mobile crisis response, stabilization and local community services.
HELP4WV
Call or text 1-844-435-749824/7 West Virginia line for mental health and addiction concerns, with peer support and crisis-care referrals.
Wisconsin crisis services
Call or text 988, or text HOPELINE to 741741The state lists 988, HOPELINE and local crisis services; ask which option serves your county.
Wyoming 988
Call or text 988Wyoming 988 provides free, confidential 24/7 mental health and substance-use crisis support.
Harm reduction
Keeping someone alive is not enabling. These services keep people safer while they are still using.
Never Use Alone
1-800-484-3731Stays on the line while someone uses. If they stop responding, sends help to their location.
Free naloxone and supplies by mail
NEXT DistroNaloxone, fentanyl test strips and safer-use supplies, plus local program finder.
Find a syringe service program
NASEN directoryLocal programs offering supplies, testing and connection to care.
Naloxone Finder (any state)
National Harm Reduction CoalitionVetted map of community programs giving free naloxone to people who use drugs.
NEXT Distro state finder
Programs by stateMail-based naloxone and supplies through partner harm reduction programs in 30+ states.
Harm Reduction Ohio
harmreductionohio.orgStatewide naloxone distribution for Ohio residents.
Florida Harm Reduction Collective
flhrc.orgNetwork of Florida programs for syringe access, overdose prevention and care.
Maine Access Points
maineaccesspoints.orgStatewide community naloxone distribution and drug user health services in Maine.
Indiana Recovery Alliance
indianarecoveryalliance.orgStatewide harm reduction, naloxone and syringe access in Indiana.
SAMHSA National Helpline
1-800-662-4357Free, confidential treatment referral 24/7.
Find treatment near you
FindTreatment.govSearch treatment and medication for addiction (MOUD) by location.
Make a personal crisis plan
Answer a few private questions and get the numbers, medical checks and harm reduction steps that fit your family.
Build your crisis planFind more help near you
This page is for information only and is not medical or legal advice. Services and hours change; mobile crisis coverage varies by county. If life is in immediate danger, call 911.