In October 2020, the U.S. Congress passed the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act, which formally designated 988 as the nationwide, universal number for suicide, mental health, and substance use crises. To further this national priority, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) issued the "National Guidelines for Behavioral Health Crisis Care," which structure the crisis care model into three pillars: Someone to Talk To, Someone to Respond, and Somewhere to Go.
To address the mental health and substance use crises in New Hampshire for youth and adults, state policy must continue to support and advance the crisis care pillars.
Why It Matters
The Commission on Behavioral Health Crisis Services in New Hampshire was established by law in 2023 to provide strategies to maintain and expand the state's 988 Lifeline (Someone to Talk To), mobile crisis response teams (Someone to Respond), and crisis stabilization centers (Somewhere to Go).
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Provides access to crisis counselors via phone, text message, and online chat to provide support to those who are feeling hopeless or overwhelmed with the aim of helping them find a plan for coping with the situation. Calls and texts to 988 are routed by area code. Calls from numbers with a 603 area code will automatically reach the New Hampshire Rapid Response Access Point, which may deploy a mobile crisis response team for further aid or connect the user with local appointments and services. New Hampshire also provides access for those using a phone with an out-of-state area code: Granite Staters can call or text 833-710-6477 or go to NH988.com to be connected directly to the NH Rapid Response Access Point.
Mobile Crisis Response Teams: Provide rapid response, assess the individual, and resolve crisis situations that involve children and adults who are presumed or known to have a behavioral health disorder. Mobile crisis response teams also link people to additional needed services, like community mental health centers or substance use treatment programs.
Crisis Stabilization Centers: Provide individuals in severe distress with up to 23 consecutive hours of supervised care to assist with de-escalating the severity of their crisis. These centers help individuals avoid unnecessary hospitalizations, and reduce the burden on New Hampshire's emergency rooms.
Despite the successes of these programs, the system does not have permanent, sustainable funding.
By the Numbers
10
mobile crisis teams are located throughout New Hampshire and can respond to a crisis within an hour.
2
23-hour crisis stabilzation centers are in Derry and Laconia. These are places for individuals to walk in, or for crisis responders to take someone in a mental health or substance use crisis.
Mission 0
New Hampshire's plan to eliminate psychiatric boarding in emergency rooms by 2025, as outlined in NH's 10-Year Mental Health Plan.
833-710-6477
Phone number to call or text (or chat online at NH988.com to be connected with someone to talk to, a mobile crisis team, local resources and appointments, or services in New Hampshire.
Our Impact
New Futures championed the 2023 legislation to form the Commission on Behavioral Health Crisis Services and continues to explore solutions to help New Hampshire better address behavioral
health services.
