When to call 911 and when to call 988, how Minnesota's 24/7 mobile crisis teams work, and how to line up follow-up care after the crisis passes.
When someone you love is in a mental health or substance use crisis, it's hard to know who to call. Is this a 911 situation? Will a crisis line actually help? What happens afterward? This guide covers Minnesota's crisis options and what to expect, and how to get ongoing care once the immediate danger has passed.
If there's immediate danger, call 911
If someone is badly hurt, has taken an overdose, has a weapon, or is in immediate danger, call 911. DHS's guidance is to call 911 for a medical emergency (Minnesota DHS). If you suspect an opioid overdose, give naloxone if you have it (see our guide to free naloxone in Minnesota).
For a mental health crisis: call or text 988
If someone is thinking about suicide or is in a mental health or substance use crisis, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You can also chat at 988lifeline.org (Minnesota DHS).
What happens when you call: calls are answered by local call centers staffed by trained crisis specialists. They listen, offer support and resources, and can connect you to a mobile crisis team if someone needs to come in person (Minnesota DHS).
You can call 988 for yourself or for someone else, and you don't have to be suicidal to call.
Prefer texting? Text MN to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line, which is free and available 24/7 (Minnesota DHS).
A note on old numbers: Minnesota retired the old **CRISIS (274747) cell phone number in July 2023. Callers to that number now hear a message telling them to dial 988 (Minnesota DHS).
Mobile crisis teams: help that comes to you
Every part of Minnesota is served by a mobile crisis team, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including evenings, weekends and holidays. Teams are made up of trained mental health professionals and practitioners who meet people at home or elsewhere in the community, not just in a clinic (Minnesota DHS).
According to DHS, a mobile crisis team can (Minnesota DHS):
- Respond to the crisis and complete a crisis screening and assessment
- De-escalate the situation and help stabilize the person
- Help the person get back to their usual level of functioning
- Set up referrals to community resources and follow-up care
Mobile crisis services are voluntary, and they serve both adults and children.
How to reach your county's team
You can reach a mobile crisis team through 988, or call your county's team directly. Teams still keep their own direct numbers (Minnesota DHS):
- Anoka County Mobile Crisis Response: (763) 755-3801, 24/7, 365 days a year (Anoka County)
- All other counties and Tribal Nations: see the DHS directory of mental health crisis phone numbers
Save your county's number in your phone now, before you need it.
Which option should I use?
| Situation | Best first step |
|---|---|
| Overdose, serious injury, weapon or immediate danger | Call 911 |
| Thoughts of suicide, or emotional distress you can't manage | Call or text 988 |
| You'd rather text than talk | Text MN to 741741 |
| You want someone to come in person to help a family member | Call your county's mobile crisis team, or call 988 and ask for one |
After the crisis: what happens next matters
A crisis team's job is to stabilize the situation and connect people to follow-up care (Minnesota DHS). The days and weeks after a crisis are when ongoing support makes the biggest difference. Some practical steps:
- Make the follow-up appointment before the crisis team leaves, or within a day or two. Ask the team or hospital for referrals and write them down.
- Bring the discharge paperwork and a list of current medications to the first appointment.
- Write a simple safety plan together: warning signs, people to call, and steps to make the home safer.
- Look after the caregiver too. Family members often need support of their own after a crisis.
Finding the right level of care
Depending on what led to the crisis, the next step might be therapy, outpatient treatment or a residential program. Within our network:
- Ongoing mental health care, such as therapy and psychiatric services for anxiety, depression or trauma: Agape Health & Wellness
- Substance use treatment that fits around work and family: start with a comprehensive assessment at Recovery Hub, in Anoka or by telehealth across Minnesota
- A structured, 24-hour setting for substance use and co-occurring mental health needs: Transformation House residential treatment
Not sure which fits? Our continuum of care explains how the programs work together, or call our intake team at (763) 427-7155 during business hours.
If you or someone you know is in danger right now, call 911, or call or text 988. Our intake line isn't a crisis line.
