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Emotional, behavioral, and/or mental distress is common and affects people with different identities and stressors every day. If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these signs, reaching out for support is an important way to start your journey.
Understanding that the behavioral health system can be complex and confusing, MHA has developed this website to help individuals identify behavioral health resources. MHA has compiled resources for informational purposes only. They are not intended to substitute or constitute legal and/or medical advice.
For medical emergencies, please call 911.
Spotting Signs of Emotional Distress:
If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these signs, reaching out for support is an important way to start your journey:
- Unusual changes in sleeping, eating, or drinking habits
- Feelings of sadness, anger, irritation, hopelessness, or burnout
- Isolation or withdrawal from friends, family, and/or other loved ones
- Loss of interest or less feelings of joy, relief when practicing hobbies, activities, or other usually enjoyable practices
- Disruptive thoughts about harming yourself and/or others
- Having trouble completing tasks and/or concentrating on other responsibilities
One of more of these signs can be happening at any point in time. The earlier you or someone you know can reach out for support, the more likely support will be able to help you navigate these challenges!
Here are available call lines that are open 24/7, on all days of the year:
988 STATEWIDE SUICIDE AND CRISIS LIFELINE - FOR PATIENTS
988 STATEWIDE SUICIDE AND CRISIS LIFELINE - FOR PROVIDERS
STATEWIDE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH HELP LINE: Call or Text 1-833-773-2445 (BHHL) for help, 24/7.
The BHHL will be available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year via phone and text, and online chat at masshelpline.com. Every call, text, or chat conversation will include clinical follow up, and staff will remain on the line with callers until they are connected to services.
FAQs for the public and for providers with more information on the BHHL can be accessed here.
MassRelay (for the deaf or hard of hearing): users can dial 711.
MA SUBSTANCE USE HOTLINE: 1-800-327-5050
SAMARITANS: 877-870-4673
SAMHSA DISASTER DISTRESS HELPLINE: 1-800-985-5990
SAMHSA HELPLINE: 1-800-662-4357
VETERAN CRISIS LINE: 800-273-8255 (PRESS 1)
COMMUNITY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CENTERS
Information provided by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services.
"Community Behavioral Health Centers (CBHCs) are one-stop shops for a wide range of mental health and substance use treatment programs. The Commonwealth's statewide CBHC network includes 29 centers located in communities across Massachusetts."
"CBHCs offer immediate care for mental health and substance use needs, both in crisis situations and more routine settings. Crisis services are available around the clock for anyone in Massachusetts experiencing a potential mental health emergency and are entirely insurance-blind, meaning anyone can access services, regardless of insurance coverage. Routine outpatient services are available for all MassHealth members and may also be covered by some commercial insurers."
Behavioral Health Roadmap
Does your network have questions about the distinctions between the Behavioral Health Help Line, Community Behavioral Health Centers, and the 988 Suicide Lifeline? Share this infographic on social platforms or in emails to clear up any confusion.
Department of Mental Health (DMH)/Other Massachusetts-Specific Behavioral Health Resources
DMH Information Line - (800) 221-0053
988 Statewide Suicide and Crisis Lifeline - For Patients
Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership - Emergency Services Program Statewide Directory
ESP/MCI services are provided at no cost to those with MassHealth (Medicaid), Medicare, or people without health insurance. Some people with private insurance can also get these services.
Callers to the access line speak with trained specialists who listen to their concerns and help identify what can help, and who can help. The access line links callers with the appropriate service and stays engaged with those callers until the connection occurs.
William James College INTERFACE Referral Service - (877) 382-1609
This is a free, confidential referral service for residents of participating communities. Callers from these participating communities are matched with licensed mental health providers from an extensive database, on average, within 2 weeks of their call to INTERFACE. Each referral best meets the location, insurance, and specialty needs of the caller.
NAMI Massachusetts Compass Helpline - (617) 704-6264 or 1-800-370-8541
The Compass Helpline at NAMI Massachusetts provides free information, ideas, resources, and support to help people across the state navigate the complex mental health system and related systems of care. Compass is staffed by people with first-hand experience navigating the mental health system for themselves or a family member.
NASW-MA Therapy Matcher - (617) 720-2828
Therapy Matcher is a public service of the MA Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. Since 1983 this free telephone referral service has connected thousands of people with licensed independent clinical social workers (LICSWs) across Massachusetts. The referral service includes nearly 300 therapists in private practice, experienced in helping clients of all ages improve their lives.
Massachusetts Substance Use Helpline - (800) 327-5050
The Helpline is the only statewide, public resource for finding substance use treatment, recovery, and problem gambling services. Helpline services are free and confidential. Our caring, trained specialists will help you understand the treatment system and your options.
Network of Care Massachusetts includes a directory of more than 5,000 programs and organizations across the commonwealth, searchable by keyword and zip code.
Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership (MBHP) Massachusetts Behavioral Health Access (MABHA) - (800) 495-0086
The Massachusetts Behavioral Health Access (MABHA) website helps both providers and individuals locate openings in mental health and substance use disorder services. We welcome everyone to search for services that they can access directly from their community.
MCSTAP Mentor Program - (833) 724-6783
MCSTAP is a resource for providers in Massachusetts to provide resource assistance with patients with chronic pain and/or substance use disorders. MCSTAP will help providers increase their capacity to incorporate an evidence-based approach to screening, diagnosing, treating, and managing care for patients with chronic pain and/or substance use disorders. Providers can call MCSTAP at 1-833-PAIN-SUD (1-833-724-6783), Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Callers will first speak with a resource and referral specialist. The resource and referral specialist will collect some information about the provider’s practice and the patient he or she is calling about and will then triage the information to the physician consultant on call.
Additional information can be found here.
Treatment Locator for Substance Use Disorder Services
ATLAS: Addiction Treatment Locator, Assessment and Standards Platform
ATLAS is a free, not-for-profit addiction treatment locator that uses validated measures to assess the quality of addiction treatment facilities and determine the best facility to meet an individual’s needs. ATLAS is a web-based platform with publicly displayed, trustworthy and standardized information for people to use when seeking care, and as a source for quality improvement work.
Access additional ATLAS information here.
State Agency and Other Pediatric-Specific Resources
DMH’s Different Kinds of Hurt: Isaac’s Story
Different Kinds of Hurt: Isaac’s Story, an animated film and graphic novel for elementary and middle school-aged children, shows how an honest conversation about “different kinds of hurting” between two classmates can have a lifelong effect.
Handhold was created by a team of mental health and child development experts in partnership with parents who have gone through what you are going through. Our goal? To guide you in caring for your child’s mental health and emotional well-being.
Family partners and parents of kids with similar experiences to yours told us what they wished they had known earlier in their journey. Mental health experts, including child psychiatrists, social workers, and psychologists selected the most relevant and useful resources.
DMH Resources for Transition Age Youth and Young Adults (Ages 16-22)
Services for Transition Age Youth and Young Adults (TAYA) bridge the Child, Youth and Family & Adult Mental Health Services Divisions. The Department strives to match youth and young adults with the services and supports that best meet their clinical and developmental needs. Additionally, DMH offers specific services and supports that are designed to meet the unique needs of youth and young adults ages 16-22.
Can you imagine a place in your neighborhood where people of all ages, incomes, and abilities are welcome to develop helpful and caring connections with each other? A place where skilled and thoughtful professionals help parents, children, and families find emotional support and practical assistance to succeed in life? A place that offers sensible solutions to families seeking health, safety, educational, and employment services? That place is part of the Massachusetts Family Resource Centers (FRCs) network and is already in your own neighborhood. Supported by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services and the Department of Children and Families, a Family Resource Center is located in each of the 14 Massachusetts counties.
The Child Trauma Training Center LINK-KID Toll-Free Number - 1-(855) 546-5543
The Child Trauma Training Center has established a toll-free number (1-855-LINK-KID) for families and the community to streamline the link between children in need of evidence-based trauma treatment and mental health providers who have been trained in these treatments. Parents, caregivers, and child-serving professionals (physicians, teachers, attorneys, etc.) are able to make just one referral to LINK-KID for treatment for their child, rather than make referrals to numerous local mental health agencies.
Behavioral Health Services for Children and Adolescents (BHCA)
On July 1, 2019, many Massachusetts private health insurance plans began paying for certain Behavioral Health services for Children and Adolescents (BHCA). Find out more about these services and learn if this benefit is available to your child and family.
Click here for plan-specific information
The Division of Insurance and Department of Mental Health jointly issued Bulletin 2018-07 to clarify that insured health plans must include specific benefits for Behavioral Health for Children and Adolescents.
The Department of Children and Families is committed to working with parents and caregivers with disabilities in order to identify the supports and services they need to be successful. As part of its mission, DCF has appointed a Statewide Disability Coordinator and Regional Disability Liaisons to support the Department’s work with parents and caregivers with disabilities.
Click here for DCF area offices locations
Our role is to respond to consumers, foster and adoptive parents, advocates, legislators, and concerned citizens regarding agency programs, policies, and services. We can assist in helping you to understand policy and case practice and try to help address your concerns. Our staff provides information regarding the appropriate steps you can take to address a problem you may be experiencing with DCF or direct you to additional sources of help or information.
Office of the Child Advocate Complaint Line
Anyone with concerns about a child or youth who is receiving state services can contact the OCA Complaint Line. State services are services that are provided directly by a state agency or services that are funded by a state agency. Some examples of state services are foster care, residential treatment programs, and some childcare centers. OCA staff will listen to your concerns and give you resources, information, and other options to help you address the problem. We also track and analyze the complaints we receive to inform our inter-agency work and make recommendations to improve services for children.
OCA Resource Guide: Child-Serving State Agencies
The OCA Resource Guide is an introduction to the different agencies that serve children across the commonwealth. The guide includes descriptions of each agency, who each agency serves, lists of programs and services that they offer, and how to apply for services, where applicable. This guide will be updated as needed to include other agencies, new programs, and any changes in the application process.
Parent/Professional Advocacy League is a statewide, grassroots family organization that advocates for improved access to mental health services for children, youth, and their families. PPAL’s goals are to support families, nurture parent leaders, and work for systems change. PPAL is the only Massachusetts organization whose work focuses solely on the interests of families whose children have mental health needs.
Children’s Mental Health Campaign – Access to Direct Services
The Children’s Mental Health Campaign (CMHC) is a statewide network that advocates for policy, systems, and practice solutions and shared responsibility among government and institutions to ensure that all children in Massachusetts have access to resources to prevent, diagnose, and treat behavioral health issues in a timely, effective, and compassionate way.
Additional Family Support Programs
Parent Information Network, serving Southeastern Massachusetts
The Support Network, serving Western Massachusetts
The Home for Little Wanderers, serving Suffolk County
Wayside, serving the Northeast and Metro West areas
Parent Stress Line at Parents Helping Parenting - 1-800-632-8188
Metrowest Navigation Line - 1-844-528-6800
Other State Agency Resources
MassOptions connects elders, individuals with disabilities, and their caregivers with agencies and organizations that can best meet their needs.
Other Online Resources
For Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)
- Boston Magazine - Mental Health Resources for the Black and Brown Community in Boston
- BARE - Mental Health and Wellness Resources
- Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) - Mental Health Resources for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC)
- Community Healing Network
- Talkspace - Black Lives Matter: Mental Health Resources for and By People of Color
- InnoPsych - A Simple Way of Finding Your Therapist of Color.
- BEAM: Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective
For LGBTQIA+/ Queer/ Nonbinary Individuals
Educational Tools
NAMI offers a range of peer-led educational programs to provide audiences with skills, training, and support through the lived experience of the presenters.
Give an Hour provides a number of tools to educate and empower everyone to take hold of their overall health and create healthy self-care practices.
The Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association (MHA) serves as the unified voice for Massachusetts hospitals and healthcare providers. Founded in 1936, MHA represents more than 100 hospitals and healthcare organizations, as well as patients across the state. Through advocacy, education, and collaboration, MHA’s mission is to improve the overall health of the commonwealth and support providers’ efforts to offer high-quality, affordable, and accessible care.
Feel free to contact MHA’s Walae Hayek whayek@mhalink.org for questions, comments, and/or concerns.
Resources have been compiled by the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association (MHA) for informational purposes only. The information provided does not and is not intended to substitute or constitute legal and/or medical advice. For medical emergencies, please call 911.
If you are a healthcare provider, we welcome you to share this resource with your patients, communities, or professional networks.
Credits:
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