Inpatient mental healthcare can help to stabilize people experiencing acute psychiatric symptoms. During an inpatient stay, physicians and other mental health professionals establish a diagnosis and begin a treatment plan. Hospitalizations may extend for several days or longer while a patient stabilizes.

At many hospitals, social workers and other staff members will create a discharge plan to ensure patients have a safe place to continue treatment after leaving the hospital and, in some cases, follow up after discharge to ensure a connection to outpatient services was made.

New Yorkers can walk in to Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Programs (CPEP) 24/7, 7 days per week. CPEPs offer triage, observation, evaluation, care, treatment, and referral in a safe and comfortable environment for those individuals with a known or suspected mental illness. CPEPs provide a full range of psychiatric emergency services and crisis outreach services within a defined geographic area to individuals experiencing symptoms of a behavioral health crisis including co-occurring disorders. These co-occurring disorders may include substance use disorders, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and medical conditions.

In addition to walk ins, Individuals may present to CPEP in a variety of ways including but not limited to referrals from providers, emergency medical services transport, and police transport. The CPEP staff will make a reasonable effort to obtain as much information from the individual(s) accompanying them to the CPEP. CPEP sites are in each borough.

• Call 1-844-NYC-4NYC (1-844-692-4692) to find the
  Health + Hospitals Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Services Program (CPEP) closest to you, or visit nyc.gov/988, click “Find Services” in the menu to find all CPEPs in New York City

If a person is experiencing concerning symptoms and refuses to go to the hospital or participate in treatment, involuntary psychiatric assessment, which may lead to involuntary hospitalization, may be an option. If the person is conducting themselves in a manner that is likely to result in serious harm to themselves or others, there are several ways they can be assessed to determine what course of action to take.

• To reach a Mobile Crisis Team call 988.
  
• Only NYC 988 can connect you to a Mobile Crisis Team.
  
• If you are calling from an area code outside of NYC (212, 332, 646, 917, 347, 718, 917, 929) and you want a Mobile Crisis Team, request to be transferred to NYC 988.
  
• If you are a provider looking to make a referral to a Mobile Crisis Team please refer to the provider page
  nyc.gov/988 or call 988

You can file a petition for an emergency psychiatric evaluation through the court system. In New York, anyone can file a petition about someone else. You do not need a lawyer to file a petition. After a petition is filed, a judge will determine whether the person of concern is experiencing mental illness and engaging in disorderly conduct or conduct likely to result in serious harm to themselves or others. If so, the judge will issue a warrant requiring the Sheriff’s office to bring the individual of concern to the court, where they will be held until there can be a second hearing.

Depending on the results of this second hearing, the individual may then be taken to a hospital for a psychiatric evaluation.

• To find the appropriate court closest to you, call 1-800-COURTNY (1-800-268-7869). For more information on New York State court operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, visit nycourts.gov or call the coronavirus hotline at 1-833-503-0447

If someone is in imminent danger to themselves or others, or needs immediate medical attention, call 911

Where appropriate, police officers and Emergency Medical Services personnel will respond and may transport someone to a hospital in an ambulance. Medical professionals at the hospital will determine whether the person of concern meets the criteria for involuntary hospitalization.

New York City has free clubhouses that provide supportive communities for people with a history of mental illness and substance misuse. Designed to help people rejoin society and maintain their position in it, clubhouses offer mutual support from other members, professional staff support, work training, educational opportunities, and social connection. 

• To find a Clubhouse call 988 at or visit nyc.gov/988, click “Find Services” in the menu and search “Clubhouse”

If someone you love is experiencing a mental health challenge, it may be helpful to learn how to support your loved one while also taking care of yourself.

Support groups, facilitated by people who have experience caring for someone with a mental health condition, can offer important information and community.

NAMI NYC offers many different support groups for families and friends of people with mental health conditions.

• Find a calendar of support groups
• Call NAMI’s helpline at 1-212-684-3264 for more information

To learn more about mental illness and the support available to caregivers and loved ones of people experiencing mental illness, visit NAMI’s website.