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Call our 24/7 Help Line
800-854-7771
for in-person support from a team of mental health clinicians and community health workers trained to de-escalate a crisis with compassion and expertise.
Call our 24/7 Help Line
800-854-7771
for in-person support from a team of mental health clinicians and community health workers trained to de-escalate a crisis with compassion and expertise.
LA County’s Alternative Crisis Response (ACR) offers safe, specialized support for people experiencing a mental health crisis, as an alternative to police or paramedics.
Our goal is to treat people quickly, effectively, and with the utmost empathy—and with the least restrictive level of care possible, so people can remain in their community. Our mental health experts bring calm and clarity to a crisis and aim to prevent the avoidable consequences of a police encounter, like use of force, arrest, and incarceration.
LA County’s Alternative Crisis Response (ACR) offers safe, specialized support for people experiencing a mental health crisis, as an alternative to police or paramedics.
Our goal is to treat people quickly, effectively, and with the utmost empathy—and with the least restrictive level of care possible, so people can remain in their community. Our mental health experts bring calm and clarity to a crisis and aim to prevent the avoidable consequences of a police encounter, like use of force, arrest, and incarceration.
ACR services are available 24/7
throughout LA County and include:
Someone to contact
24/7 Help Line
for crisis support, appointments and referrals, substance-use disorder services, or veteran and military support at 800-854-7771
988 Suicide and
Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support and counseling, available by phone, text, or online chat
Someone to respond
Field Intervention Teams for in-person support during a mental health crisis, available through the 24/7 Help Line at 800-854-7771
Somewhere to go
Psychiatric Urgent Care Centers for short-term stabilization and on-the-spot assessment, therapy, and medication
Crisis Residential Treatment Programs for rehabilitative and psychiatric support services in a home-like environment
Somewhere to treat
Follow-Up Teams for ongoing treatment, urgent appointment scheduling, and support after a crisis
ACR services are available 24/7
throughout LA County and include:
Someone to contact
24/7 Help Line
for crisis support, appointments and referrals, substance-use disorder services, or veteran and military support at 800-854-7771
988 Suicide and
Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support and counseling, available by phone, text, or online chat
Someone to respond
Field Intervention Teams for in-person support during a mental health crisis, available through the 24/7 Help Line at 800-854-7771
Somewhere to go
Psychiatric Urgent Care Centers for short-term stabilization and on-the-spot assessment, therapy, and medication
Crisis Residential Treatment Programs for rehabilitative and psychiatric support services in a home-like environment
Somewhere to treat
Follow-Up Teams for ongoing treatment, urgent appointment scheduling, and support after a crisis
What is a mental health crisis?
A mental health crisis is a situation when someone’s emotional or mental state has put them at risk of hurting themselves or others, or impaired their ability to take care of their basic needs.
Recognizing when your loved one is in crisis can be complicated, as the details look and feel different for everyone. But when you’re close with someone, you’ll probably notice if something seems off or unusual.
Learning to identify a mental health crisis can help you determine the right call for help.
Signs to look out for:
disoriented or confused
extremely malnourished
aggressive shouting
talking about suicide
hallucinations or delusions
Learning to identify a mental health crisis can help you determine the right call for help.
Signs to look out for:
disoriented or confused
extremely malnourished
aggressive shouting
talking about suicide
hallucinations or delusions
What will happen when I call the Help Line?
When you call 800-854-7771, our call center personnel will ask you about the situation to determine if in-person help from a Field Intervention Team is appropriate.
Our team of specially trained professionals can offer in-person support for a mental health crisis.
Our Approach
Our team of specially trained professionals can offer in-person support for a mental health crisis.
Our Approach
A team of two—one mental health clinician and one community health worker—will be sent directly to you. Arrival times vary due to traffic.
The team will arrive without sirens, wearing plain clothes and an LA County ID badge.
The team will speak with you and/or other family members or loved ones present to address any safety risks or needs.
The team will speak with the person in crisis to better understand what they’re experiencing, conduct a crisis assessment, and try to de-escalate and stabilize the situation.
The team will determine the next best steps for keeping them safe. This could be a visit to a psychiatric urgent care or a recommendation for social services. Involuntary hospitalization may be necessary.
Cheri shares about her experience with the Field Intervention Team when her son experienced a mental health crisis.
Who’s on the Field Intervention Team?
Our teams include both mental health clinicians (social workers, psychologists, licensed psychiatric technicians, registered nurses) and community health workers (trained peers or community members with lived experience). We’re experts in our field and we’re passionate about getting people the help they need, when they need it most. No one should have to face their—or their loved one’s—mental health crisis alone. We’re here for you, no matter the time, the place, or the situation.
Our team members share what drives them to do this important work every day.
What can I do if I witness a mental health crisis?
Mental illness is not a crime. When you see someone struggling with their mental health, remember that the police are not your only option for help. Have compassion and treat them with kindness, and determine your next steps based on their situation.
Call our 24/7 Help Line at 800-854-7771 for in-person support if you notice someone seems disoriented or confused, extremely malnourished, aggressive, delusional, or suicidal. They may be experiencing a mental health crisis.
Do move slowly and stay calm
Contact LA-HOP.org for homelessness resources and outreach services, if someone may be struggling with their mental health (like, calmly talking to themselves or living on the sidewalk) but does not pose an immediate danger to their safety or others.
Call 911 for police or paramedics, if someone is endangering others (like, aggressively waving around a weapon or threatening to hurt others) or needs medical attention. If they’re violent or aggressive, get yourself and others to safety. If the person is injured, stand nearby until the emergency team arrives.
If you think someone is experiencing a mental health crisis, call us first—not the police. We can help you determine the next best steps to keep the person safe and to get them the help they need.
GET HELP
(800) 854-7771
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Call or Text 988 or chat online chat online.
Get 24/7 help: LACDMH Help Line (800) 854-7771 or 988