A mental health crisis represents a significant deterioration in a person’s psychological or emotional state, often leading to potential harm to themselves or others. While many crises can be managed through specialized support lines and community resources, certain situations require the immediate intervention of emergency services. Calling 911 is reserved for true life-or-death situations where minutes matter and immediate physical intervention is necessary to ensure safety. Understanding this threshold is the most important factor in deciding whether to dial 911.
Defining the Immediate 911 Threshold
The decision to call 911 for a mental health issue should be based exclusively on the presence of an imminent threat of physical danger. This standard means the risk of harm is actively happening or about to happen, not merely a possibility for the future. A person who is actively attempting suicide, such as by taking an overdose or engaging in a self-injurious act requiring immediate medical attention, meets this definition.
Imminent threat also applies when an individual has a specific, lethal plan for suicide and the means to carry it out are immediately available, such as a weapon or a large quantity of medication. Similarly, active physical aggression or the brandishing of a weapon toward others constitutes an immediate danger requiring emergency responders. These situations involve a loss of behavioral control that endangers the lives of those nearby.
A third indicator for calling 911 is severe functional impairment due to acute psychosis, where the person is completely unable to recognize danger. This includes individuals who are severely disoriented, experiencing profound hallucinations or delusions that lead them to wander into traffic or engage in other life-threatening behaviors. The inability to care for oneself due to this mental state can also necessitate an emergency response to prevent death or serious injury from exposure or neglect.
What to Expect During and After the Emergency Call
When you call 911 for a mental health emergency, you will first speak with a dispatcher who will ask a series of questions to assess the situation. It is helpful to remain calm and clearly state that the call is for a “mental health emergency” or “behavioral health crisis” to guide the response. The dispatcher will need the exact location, the nature of the threat (e.g., active self-harm or threats with a weapon), and confirmation of whether any weapons are present.
You should also provide a description of the individual and their current behavior, including any known mental health diagnoses or medications, as this information is relayed to first responders. If available in your area, specifically request a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)-trained officer. These officers have received specialized training focused on understanding mental illness and de-escalation techniques to safely manage situations involving people in crisis.
While waiting for help to arrive, the caller should prioritize their own safety and, if possible, secure any weapons in the environment. Maintaining distance from the person in crisis, especially if they are agitated, can help prevent escalation. When first responders arrive, they will assess the risk and work to stabilize the situation.
The goal of first responders (police, Emergency Medical Services, or a co-response team that includes a mental health clinician) is to ensure immediate safety and facilitate transport for medical or psychiatric evaluation. In cases of severe risk, this may involve an involuntary hold to prevent harm to self or others. The process is designed to move the individual from an unsafe environment to a place where they can receive professional care.
Essential Alternatives to 911
For crises that are serious but do not involve the immediate, life-threatening danger required for a 911 call, several specialized resources offer immediate support. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is the national standard for behavioral health crises, connecting callers to trained crisis counselors via call, text, or chat, 24 hours a day. The counselors de-escalate distress, provide emotional support, and connect individuals to local resources, with most contacts resolved without involving emergency services.
Many communities also operate Mobile Crisis Teams (MCTs), which can be dispatched to a location to provide an in-person, non-police response. These teams are typically staffed by mental health clinicians, case managers, and peer support specialists who offer on-site assessment, de-escalation, and transport to stabilization services. MCTs are an option for situations involving severe emotional distress, suicidal ideation without an active plan or means, or substance use crises where the individual is currently safe and cooperative.
If you are unsure whether a situation meets the 911 threshold, calling 988 is the recommended first step, as they can assess the level of risk and transfer the call to 911 if necessary. Many local mental health agencies also maintain non-emergency police lines or “warm lines” for consultation or to request wellness checks. Utilizing these non-911 options helps ensure the response is tailored to the specific needs of a behavioral health crisis.