Overview

New York's crisis response system is designed to prevent, recognize, respond to, de-escalate, and follow up on crises across a continuum of services.

Someone to Contact

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline connects individuals to trained crisis counselors 24/7. They can help anyone thinking about suicide, struggling with substance use, experiencing a mental health crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress.

You can also call, text or chat 988 if you are worried about someone you care about who may need crisis support. It's free, confidential, and available 24/7.

Resources for 988

New York State 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Someone to Respond

Mobile Crisis Services

Mobile Crisis provides urgent voluntary short-term intervention to anyone experiencing or at risk of experiencing a mental health and/or substance use crisis. Crisis teams deliver services where and when people need it.

Services include:

• Telephonic triage and crisis response
• Mobile crisis response
• Telephonic crisis follow-up
• Mobile crisis follow-up

Resources for Mobile Crisis Services

Mobile Crisis Benefit and Billing Guidance

Mobile Crisis Rates

Mobile Crisis Program Guidance

State Plan Amendment Updates to Mobile Crisis Services

Home-Based Crisis Intervention (HBCI)

HBCI provides intensive in-home crisis services to families –natural, foster, or adoptive –when a child is at imminent risk of psychiatric hospitalization. The target population for the HBCI program is youth age five up to 21.

These interventions last for four to six weeks and a counselor is available seven days a week, 24 hours a day to work with the child and family.

Visit the Services for Children and Families page for more information.

A Safe Place for Help

Crisis Residences

Crisis Residences are voluntary programs that operate 24/7. They offer a safe place for the stabilization of mental health and psychiatric crisis symptoms. Services range from support to treatment for children and adults. Stays should not exceed 21 days for children and 28 days for adults.

Programs have from three to 16 beds and provide a home-like and welcoming environment.

Crisis Residential program types include:

• Residential Crisis Support for individuals 18 years and older
• Intensive Crisis Residence for individuals 18 years and older
• Children’s Crisis Residence for children and youth up to 21 years old

Resources for Crisis Residence Services

Adult Crisis Residence Program Guidance

State Plan Amendment Updates for Crisis Residence Reimbursement Standards

Mobile Crisis and Crisis Residence Authority and Reimbursement Changes

Crisis SPA Implementation Update - Extension to Retire Children's Crisis Rate Codes

Crisis Residence Benefit and Billing Guidance

Adult Crisis Residence Admissions Notification Form

Children’s Crisis Residence Admissions Notification Form

Children’s Crisis Residence Program Guidance

Crisis Residential Services Rates

Crisis Stabilization Centers

Crisis Stabilization Centers (CSC) provide support and urgent treatment to anyone experiencing mental health and/or substance use crisis symptoms. All services are:

• Voluntary
• Person-centered
• Trauma-informed

There is an emphasis on peer expertise and recovery-oriented support. Centers are available 24/7/365 to children, adolescents, adults, and families. If more support is needed, staff connect individuals to resources within their community.

Crisis Stabilization Centers coordinate and collaborate with:

• Local mobile crisis providers
• Law enforcement
• Triage lines by telephone
• Community treatment and support services

There are two types of Crisis Stabilization Centers:

Supportive Crisis Stabilization Centers

Provides help and support to people with mental health and/or substance use crisis symptoms. Services are for individuals experiencing challenges in daily life that do not pose the likelihood of serious harm to self or others.

Intensive Crisis Stabilization Centers

Provides urgent treatment to people experiencing an acute mental health and/or substance use crisis. Intensive CSCs offer the same services as a supportive center while also providing rapid access to services for acute symptoms, assisting in diversion from a higher level of care, and prescribing medications to manage substance use and mental health symptoms.

Resources for Crisis Stabilization Centers

Crisis Stabilization Center Program Guidance

Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Programs (CPEPs)

CPEPs provide a full range of psychiatric emergency services to individuals experiencing symptoms of a behavioral health crisis. Emergency services are available in hospitals 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Emergency psychiatric services are offered in a safe environment and include:

• Triage
• Observation
• Evaluation
• Care and treatment
• Referral

Additional CPEP Services include:

Extended Observation Beds

Provides a safe environment for individuals who may need extensive evaluation, assessment, or stabilization of acute psychiatric symptoms for a period up to 72 hours.

Crisis Outreach Services

These services are provided in the community. They are for people showing symptoms of mental illness and/or acute stress. Crisis Outreach services include evaluation, assessment and stabilization services and may result in follow up Crisis Outreach in person or by telephone.

Resources for CPEP

CPEP Program Guidance

Crisis Follow-up Services for CPEPs (May 24, 2022)

1115 Waiver Mobile Crisis Services Provided by CPEPs (May 4, 2023)

Contact

If you have any questions related to these services, please contact OMH Managed Care:

• Medicaid Managed Care Plans: BHO@omh.ny.gov
• Providers: OMH-Managed-Care@omh.ny.gov