Urgent need, crisis, abuse concern, or service breakdown
Get immediate Massachusetts crisis help
Call 911 for immediate danger; otherwise call or text the Behavioral Health Help Line and then notify the DDS team.
Official sources checked 2026-07-29
Start here
Massachusetts behavioral-health crisis servicesBefore you start
- Current location, immediate danger, communication needs, diagnoses, medications, medical risks, triggers, calming strategies, contacts, service plan, and recent changes.
Who to contact
Use the official destination above, the DDS Area Office assigned by city or town, the service coordinator, the operating agency, or the exact contact on the controlling notice.
Step by step
- For immediate medical or safety danger call 911.
- For other behavioral-health crisis help call or text 833-773-2445; ask about the local Community Behavioral Health Center or mobile crisis response.
- After immediate safety, notify the DDS coordinator and providers and request a documented follow-up plan.
Expected next
A crisis response plus a named follow-up owner, assessment, referral, plan update, or service correction.
Save this proof
Call times, responders, incident facts, discharge material, team notifications, referrals, and updated plan.
If this stalls or the answer is no
Escalate according to immediate risk and ask the crisis and DDS teams to name the post-crisis owner and next event.
Beyond Childhood planning aid
Get immediate Massachusetts crisis help checklist
A Beyond Childhood planning aid derived from the cited official sources.
- Owner and date started
- Documents supplied
- Confirmation or notice
- Current status
- Next event and date
- Escalation contact
Derived from Massachusetts behavioral-health crisis services
Official resources
Limits
911, the Behavioral Health Help Line, Community Behavioral Health Centers, mobile crisis, and DDS services have different roles.
Beyond Childhood’s checklists and prompts are planning aids derived from official sources. They are not official forms, legal advice, eligibility decisions, or guarantees of funding, capacity, quality, or service.