Helplines, Resources, and Emergency Supports

Emergency Resources

Dial 911 for all medical emergencies.

Mental Health and Emergency Resources That Are Not the Emergency Room (ER)

  • CHA Community Behavioral Health Centers (24 hours access line: 833-222-2030): The Behavioral Health Urgent Care is a walk-in service for people of all ages. When you visit, you will get an assessment to identify any behavioral health issues and treatment needs. You will receive recommendations for treatment that might include: medication consultation and management; self-help apps with guidance from a peer specialist; support groups; meetings with a recovery coach, peer specialist, or family support specialist; individual and/or group therapy; or hospital treatment for people in extreme crisis. See this FAQ document for more information. 
  • BEST Team (800-981-4357 or 800-981-HELP): provides 24/7 crisis response and emergency mental health services to children, adolescents and adults in Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Revere, Somerville and Winthrop communities. This team includes bilingual responders to serve all the residents in our communities, providing access to a comprehensive, highly integrated system of crisis evaluation and treatment services. They offer: immediate information & referrals, psychiatric evaluation, crisis intervention and treatment (including psychopharmacology medication), and referral for ongoing treatment.
  • Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership (MBHP) (877-382-1609: provides an alternative to going to a hospital emergency room for those having a mental health or substance use crisis. It connects callers to the Emergency Services Program and Mobile Crisis Intervention in their area and provides behavioral health crisis assessment, intervention, and stabilization services 24 hours per day/7 days per week/365 days per year. Services are available for people of all ages and those who are uninsured, insured by MassHealth (Medicaid) plans, or Medicare.

Mental Health Crisis Hotlines

  • CHA 24 Hour Access Line (833-222-2030): provides 24-hour phone services for support and advice for urgent mental health needs and to connect people to care. Urgent mental health needs may include anger, depression, suicidal thoughts, emotional outbursts, substance use, and other urgent or crisis situations.
  • 988 Lifeline (dial 988): This is a mental health lifeline that provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, suicide prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones.
  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The Lifeline provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • Your Life, Your Voice (1-800-448-3000): The Boys Town National Hotline is a toll free number available to kids, teens and young adults at any time. Please contact us if you’re depressed, contemplating suicide, being physically or sexually abused, on the run, addicted, threatened by gang violence, fighting with a friend or parent, or if you are faced with an overwhelming challenge. Call, text, chat, or email all available via the website.
  • Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 from anywhere in the United States, anytime. Crisis Text Line is here for any crisis. A live, trained Crisis Counselor receives the text and responds, all from our secure online platform.

Sexual Assault Hotlines / Resources

  • RAINN (1-800-656-4673): provides information, education and resources regarding sexual assault. There are ways to learn more, advocate or receive confidential support through the national sexual assault hotline. It is confidential and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (BARCC): The Boston Area Rape Crisis Center offers education and many resources; virtual support groups, hotline support by phone and webchat, ways to advocate, service providers, etc. Their highly trained and supervised volunteer counselors and staff are available to support survivors of sexual violence, their families and friends, and providers. You can reach the hotline by phone 24-7 at 800-841-8371 or web chat 9:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m. every day. The hotline is free and confidential, and the web chat hotline works on mobile browsers.

Abuse Hotline

  • National Domestic Violence Hotline: the National Domestic Violence Hotline helps survivors of domestic violence so they can live their lives free of abuse. Expert advocates offer free, confidential, and compassionate support, and crisis intervention information, education, and referral services in over 200 languages. Text 'START' to 88788; Call: 800.799.SAFE (7233); or Chat: https://www.thehotline.org

Housing Hotlines

  • Bridge Over Troubled Waters: If you are a young person in Boston who needs support and a safe place to stay, Bridge can help. If you need immediate shelter or want to learn more about Bridge programs, schedule a meeting or stop in at their downtown Boston location Monday-Friday 9 am to 5 pm. Call: 617.423.9575; Email: bridge@bridgeotw.org; Visit: 47 West Street, Boston, MA 02111
  • Youth on Fire: Youth on Fire (YOF), a program of AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts, is a drop-in center for homeless and street-involved youth, ages 14-24, located in Harvard Square, Cambridge. Over 3,000 youth have benefitted from YOF since the program opened its doors in the Spring of 2000. Call: 617.661.2508; Visit: 1 Church Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
  • Trans Lifeline Hotline (877-565-8860) is a peer support phone service run by trans people for trans and questioning peers. Call if you need someone trans to talk to, even if you’re not in crisis or if you’re not sure you’re trans. Oprima 2 para hablar con unx operador en español. When you call, you’ll speak to a trans/nonbinary peer operator. Full anonymity and confidentiality and nonconsensual active rescue (calling 911, emergency services, or law enforcement). 
  • The Trevor Project: Trained counselors who understand the challenges LGBTQ young people face. They will listen without judgment. All conversations are confidential, and callers can share as much or as little as they’d like. Employs non-consensual active rescue.Text 'START' to 678-678; Call: 1.866.488.7386; Chat: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help

Find Resources in Your Area

  • Massachusetts Network of Care: Available in over 100 languages and resources applicable for all ages. You can find behavioral health services, mental health inpatient and outpatient treatment centers for adolescents and adults anywhere near you in Massachusetts. Other resources included are: housing, educational, employment help, educational opportunities, financial assistance, immigration, legal services,substance abuse resources, violence, abuse and neglect resources, self help, and transportation resources.
  • Cambridge Resources: Includes legal help, health, mental health/counseling,child care, special needs immigration help, insurance for low income families and other family resources

Other Mental Health Resources

Children's Mental Health

  • Handhold MA: For ages 6-12, available in 6 languages (English, Spanish, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Haitian Creole, and Vietnamese). The website explores families' concerns and  addresses signs and symptoms and suggestions on what to do next for parents. It has tips, tools, and strategies from other families with similar concerns. It has community organizations and government services to find the right mental health services.
  • On Our Sleeves: the national movement for children's mental health. 

Support Groups / Mental Health Information

General Caregiving