Crisis Contacts

Life Threatening Emergency
911 call 24/7

National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
988 call or text 24/7
Chat at 988lifeline.org
Support for anyone experiencing mental health-related distress – whether that is thoughts of suicide, mental health or substance use crisis or any other kind of emotional distress. People can also dial 988 if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.

Veterans’ Crisis Line
Call 988 and Press 1,
Or text 838255, or chat online veteranscrisisline.net
Confidential crisis support for veterans and their loved ones.

Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line
833-773-2445 call or text 24/7, online at masshelpline.com
Converse with a clinician for mental health or substance use crisis evaluation and connection to clinical services and mobile crisis response.

Community Behavioral Health Centers (CBHCs)

These facilities serve as an alternative to emergency department visits for mental health and substance use crisis and urgent care. Crisis services available 24/7. Outpatient walk-ins welcome 8:00-8:00 M-F and 9:00-5:00 on weekends. Use the button below for more information and to search for CBHC locations across the state. The CBHC facilities closest to the communities in our affiliate are Lynn, Lowell, Waltham, and Framingham.

Peer Led Crisis Options

These no fee facilities are open 24/7 and staffed by people living with mental health conditions trained to provide non-clinical support.

The Livingroom, in Framingham, advocates.org/services/living-room
This program is a peer-run alternative to emergency department visits and hospitalization. People experiencing emotional distress or in mental health crisis can walk in and connect with a trained peer specialist. Phone support is also available. Call 508-661-3333 to connect with a caring peer specialist.

Kiva Centers, in Worcester, kivacenters.org/karaya-peer-respite/
Kiva’s Karaya Peer-Run Respite offers rest and reflection in a home environment for people experiencing emotional distress. The Karaya program also offers a mobile response component. Fill out the online recommendation form to request a response.

Criminal Justice Involved

Most communities in Massachusetts have a clinician working with the local police department who can assist with jail diversion and connection to behavioral health resources. Contact your local police and ask about their behavioral health clinician.

See our Resources page, namicentralmiddlesex.org/resources, for additional support including information about the MA Mental Health Court Sessions and the NAMI MA “Road Map Through the Criminal Justice System” guide.

Crisis Planning Resources

The NAMI Massachusetts website offers well researched information about what to do, how to plan, and a variety of services to help handle a crisis.