WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has released updated National Behavioral Health Crisis Care Guidance aimed at enhancing the nation’s response to mental health and substance use crises. This effort is part of an ongoing initiative to address record-high rates of suicide and overdose, while also building on the transition to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in 2022.
The updated guidance, referred to as the National Behavioral Health Crisis Care Guidance, comprises three key documents. These include the 2025 National Guidelines for a Behavioral Health Coordinated System of Crisis Care, Model Definitions for Behavioral Health Emergency, Crisis, and Crisis-Related Services, and a draft Mobile Crisis Team Services Implementation Toolkit, which is open for public comment until March 21, 2024. Together, these resources set forth a framework for reshaping community crisis care systems and ensuring timely access to care.
“Everyone in this country, no matter who they are or where they live, should have access to crisis care for mental health and substance use issues,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is helping to transform behavioral health crisis care in this country. This guidance will help communities continue to develop and enhance their behavioral health crisis services and systems to ensure everyone has access to the care that they need.”
SAMHSA’s framework is built on three foundational pillars essential to an integrated crisis care system:
- Someone to Contact – The 988 Lifeline and other hotlines provide immediate, accessible support for individuals in crisis.
- Someone to Respond – Mobile crisis teams are a critical component, delivering rapid, on-site assistance to de-escalate crises and connect people with appropriate care.
- A Safe Place for Help – Stabilization services offer facilities where individuals in crisis can access care, resolve crises, and transition to ongoing treatment when necessary.
The new guidance emphasizes scalability and sustainability for these systems, equipping state, tribal, local, and territorial governments with the tools needed to design and improve crisis care services. It also provides practitioners with actionable steps for delivering quality care.
“SAMHSA’s National Behavioral Health Crisis Care Guidance has been updated to reflect the transition to 988 as a pivotal moment in the ongoing collaborative work to transform behavioral health crisis care in this country,” commented HHS Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D., who also leads SAMHSA. “This new guidance will help support communities in designing, implementing, and continuously improving their crisis care systems so that people in crisis receive timely and effective support.”
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, launched nationwide in 2022, represents a significant shift in behavioral health crisis response. The easy-to-remember, three-digit number aims to provide individuals with immediate access to trained crisis counselors, significantly reducing reliance on law enforcement and emergency departments for mental health emergencies. The updated guidance builds on this progress while addressing the urgent need for comprehensive crisis care systems.
The guidance reflects substantial input collected through listening sessions, expert consultations, and public feedback. Crucially, it underscores the importance of a coordinated, flexible, and compassionate approach to behavioral health crises at a time when the nation continues to grapple with increasing demand for services.
With public comments being sought on the draft Mobile Crisis Team Services Implementation Toolkit, SAMHSA aims to refine and finalize tools that advance the capacity of crisis teams to stabilize situations and connect individuals with long-term support.
The updated National Behavioral Health Crisis Care Guidance aims to provide evidence-based guidance to help individuals, organizations, and communities improve their response to behavioral health crises.
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