Crisis Intervention

1-800-LIFENET

(1-877-AYUDESE en Espanõl; 1-877-990-8585 for Chinese callers)

1-800-LIFENET, a confidential, toll-free help line for New York City residents, is operated by the Mental Health Association of New York City (www.mhaofnyc.org) in partnership with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

LIFENET operates 24 hours per day/7 days per week. The hotline's staff of trained mental health professionals help callers find the most appropriate mental health and substance abuse services for their needs. LIFENET is multilingual and multicultural:

• In Spanish: 1-877-AYUDESE (1-877-298-3373)
• In Mandarin, Cantonese and Korean dialects: 1-877-990-8585
• All other languages: 1-800-LIFENET (1-800-543-3638)

LIFENET assists people who are experiencing a crisis. LIFENET has authorized linkages with the 23 mobile crisis teams and Emergency Medical Services (EMS). This unique, life-saving authority allows

LIFENET to provide a prompt response to callers in urgent need of psychiatric assistance.

LIFENET currently receives approximately 6,000 calls per month.

What types of problems can LIFENET help you with?

Many people's lives are affected by emotional and substance abuse problems, whether the problem is our own or with someone we care about. Such concerns can occur in the work place, at school or at home. These problems may include family difficulties, drug or alcohol abuse, depression, excessive worry, fear or anxiety, eating disorders or one of the many serious emotional problems which can affect your daily life. They can seem overwhelming or small, but they seem to be more than you can manage on your own. Some of these problems may escalate into crisis situations, which could result in serious harm without proper treatment.

What can you expect to happen when you call LIFENET?

An experienced mental health professional (called a "referral specialist") will listen to the problem and assess the situation. You will then be provided with information about local community resources that can best help you with your concern if needed.

How does LIFENET assist people calling who are in crisis?

Our referral specialists are trained in assessing the severity of the problem based on the caller's report. If it is determined that a level of risk is present, our referral specialists will contact either 911 or a mobile crisis team to provide appropriate intervention. In emergency situations, LIFENET will then follow up with Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and the receiving hospital to check on the status of the person who was assessed to be a potential danger to self/others.

What kind of resources does LIFENET have?

In the New York City area there are thousands of referral sources to meet your particular needs, right at our fingertips. LIFENET has access to a broad database of over 4,000 community resources. LIFENET referral specialists are available to respond to your calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

How does LIFENET work?

You can call for yourself or someone you know. We need to know only the age, neighborhood and the type of problem. Your needs are then matched with the proper mental health, substance abuse, or crisis service professional qualified to address your problem.

I'm not in New York City, yet I need help for a New York City resident. Can I call LIFENET?

Yes. The hotline's toll-free numbers are accessible from anywhere in the continental United States.

Who will know that I’ve called?

LIFENET is a crisis information and referral service where all calls are kept in strictest confidence.

What will this service cost?

There is absolutely no charge to you. LIFENET is provided as a free community service by the Mental Health Association of New York City, in collaboration with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.