Need help right now?
If you or someone you care about is in a mental health crisis, call or text 988 right now. You can also use the 988 online chat. The 988 Lifeline is free, confidential, and available 24/7 for suicidal thoughts, mental health crises, substance use crises, or emotional distress. It also offers options for Veterans, Spanish-language support, Deaf/HoH access, and interpretation for many other languages.
If there is immediate danger, a medical emergency, or you cannot stay safe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Important note about our practice
If you’re having thoughts of suicide or you feel you might hurt yourself, treat this as an emergency. If you’re safe in this moment, the next step is to reach out to a trusted person and schedule professional care. Our office messaging portal is not monitored for emergencies.
If you are in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has statewide crisis intervention services, and every county is required to have crisis services available. The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services says these services must be accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and that people may use the public behavioral health crisis system regardless of insurance status, income, or whether they have received services before.
When someone in Pennsylvania contacts 988, counselors at Pennsylvania crisis call centers can provide immediate support and connect people to local help. When needed, they may help activate a mobile mental health crisis team, provide therapeutic support, or arrange referral or transportation for further evaluation.
If you are in Michigan
In Michigan, 988 connects people to behavioral health crisis support, and the state’s Michigan Crisis and Access Line (MiCAL) serves as the statewide crisis and access line that answers Michigan 988 calls, with some regional 988 centers also providing coverage. Michigan’s crisis system is built around 988/MiCAL, mobile crisis, and crisis stabilization services. The state also notes that local Community Mental Health Services Programs (CMHSPs) still play an important role and continue to maintain local crisis lines.
Crisis Help FAQ
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Call 911 if there is immediate danger or a medical emergency.
Call or text 988 for suicidal thoughts, a mental health crisis, a substance use crisis, or overwhelming emotional distress. You can also contact 988 if you are worried about someone else. 988 is available 24/7, and the goal is to connect you with a trained crisis counselor for immediate support.
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Start with the fastest step: call or text 988 now. If talking feels hard, use chat instead. While you wait, try to stay where you are not alone, ask one trusted person to stay with you or be on the phone with you, and focus only on getting through the next few minutes safely.
If your safety becomes more urgent or you are in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
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You do not have to handle it alone. You can call or text 988 yourself if you are concerned about someone else, and the counselor can help you think through next steps and local resources. If your loved one talks about wanting to hurt themselves, do not promise to keep it secret. Be direct, stay calm, listen without judgment, and help them connect to 988 or emergency care if needed.
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988 is free and confidential. When you call, text, or chat, you will be connected with a live crisis counselor. They will usually ask about your safety, listen to what is happening, help reduce the intensity of the moment, and share support options or resources. Most contacts are helped through the conversation itself, resources, or community connections without 911 involvement. If the counselor believes there is imminent risk of harm and a less invasive safety plan cannot be worked out with you, emergency services may be contacted.
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If you are not in immediate danger and you are looking for outpatient mental health care, you can use our scheduling portal, scheduling page or contact our office during business hours. We provide scheduled outpatient care and are not an emergency service.
Please do not use our contact form, voicemail, or portal messages for urgent crisis needs. If you need immediate help, call or text 988 or call 911 for emergencies.