Navigating NYC Mental Health: A Crisis Toolkit

Navigating a Mental Health Crisis

Not all mental health crises need 911 – Start with 988 if you are unsure.

Help is here.

If you or someone you care about is in distress, support is available!

What is a Mental Health Crisis?

A crisis is a mental health or substance use concern that is hard to handle and requires help to return to normal. It can be sudden or related to some other event in your life. Not sure if you are having a mental health crisis? Call 988 and talk it through with one of our counselors.

What to Expect When Calling 988

Contact 988 for free, confidential mental health and substance use support:

· Talk to trained crisis counselors.

· Speak to a peer counselor with lived experience.

· Interpreters available in 200+ languages, including ASL.

· No insurance or ID required.

988 Can also refer you to in-person support, when appropriate. Crisis counselors can connect you to Mobile Crisis Teams, who can visit at home or school in just a few hours during an emotional crisis.

988 may connect callers to 911 if there are immediate concerns about safety. Otherwise, police are not typically involved in 988 calls.

988: Help for You or Someone You Love With:

· Any kind of suicidal thoughts or behaviors. This could look like, but is not limited to:

Someone confides in you that they are considering harming themselves
Thoughts about hurting or killing yourself.

· Emotional distress, overwhelming stress, or inability to function in daily life. This could look like, but is not limited to:

Trouble getting out of bed
Feeling on edge or jumpy
Expecting the worst and looking out for signs of danger
Loss of interest in things you normally enjoy and/or feeling hopeless

· Anxiety, depression, insomnia, eating disorders, anger, or similar struggles

· Concerns about someone else's mental or behavioral health

· Support services and resources, including:

Mental health or substance use referrals
Short-term counseling
Peer support
Coping strategies

When to Call 911

Call 911 for a situation that requires immediate attention, like a medical emergency, fire, crime in progress, and any life-threatening situations.

Call 911 for:

· Life-threatening emergencies

· Immediate connection to fire, medical, and police services

· Someone at immediate risk of hurting themself or someone else

· Someone in immediate danger because of a health condition or other situation

If you are having a mental health crisis and are unsure if you should call 911, call 988 to talk through it.

white square graphic with white border. Large white text reads: “CALL.” Next to the words, a speech bubble contains “911.” Along the bottom are icons: an ambulance, a flame, a police badge, and a siren, representing emergency services.

What to Expect When Calling 911

When calling 911, the call taker will ask you if you need fire, medical, or police and a few more questions about the situation.

An in-person response by police or emergency services may happen when you call 911.

Federal guidelines permit 911 access to your exact location using geolocation technology.

When Someone is Having a Mental Health Crisis, it's Best to Call 911 if they are:

· At serious risk to themselves or others and requires immediate support. This can look like, but is not limited to:

Holding a weapon and threatening to harm themselves or others
Dangerous behavior such as walking into traffic or on subway tracks
Actively trying to harm themselves or end their life

· Also requiring immediate medical help. This could look like, but is not limited to:

Trouble breathing
Unresponsive
Serious bleeding/injury
Disorientation (e.g. don't know basic information such as name/date)

Call 911

When to Call 311

311 is not for emergencies or mental health crises, but it can connect you to city services and resources 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year Some of these resources include:

· Street outreach assistance for individuals living on the street or subway.

· Same day transportation options to care via Access a Ride and Medicaid.

· Information on housing, food, and insurance benefits and support.

Black square graphic with white border. On the left, a speech bubble reads “311” with the word “CALL” underneath. On the right, a speech bubble reads “311-692” with the word “TEXT” underneath. Below, white text says: “DOWNLOAD APP (Apple/Android) nyc.gov/311.” Along the bottom are icons representing common city service requests: a person covering their ears with noise lines, an information symbol, a “No Parking” sign, a broken streetlight, loud music, and a fire hydrant.

What to expect when calling 311:

311 services can be accessed by call, text, NYC311online, and through the 311 online app. Contacting 311 will give you options to:

· Report issues and make complaints

· Check the status of service requests

· Discover services available through city programs

· Find sites in your community

311 can send a street outreach team to check on someone who may be living on the street or subway. The Department of Homeless Services (DHS) will send a mobile outreach response team within an hour to encourage the person to accept services.

311 is your bridge to City Government

311 is not intended for mental health crises, but can connect you to resources that may help provide other types of support. 311 offers information and resources for:

· Housing and shelter
· Accessible transportation
· Food assistance
· Immigration
· Health insurance
· Health care
· Veterans and military
· Education ... and more!

Culturally-Responsive Community Resources:

Improving Access to Mental Well-Being

Illustrated cover with a large yellow sunflower in front of the sun, surrounded by colorful flowers, with the title How to Get NYC Mental Health and Substance Use Services for All New Yorkers.

Download in English

How To Get NYC Mental Health & Substance Use Services For All New Yorkers

In New York City, everyone has guaranteed access to healthcare — including mental healthcare. Low- or no-cost services are available in many languages, in neighborhoods across New York City — regardless of insurance coverage, age, immigration status, or ability to pay.

Use this guide to find the right kind of help. If you know what you are looking for, click here to find services.