Crisis Services
If you or someone you know is having a mental health crisis, please call (510) 981-5900 (Police Non-Emergency), or 911 if it is a life-threatening emergency. For the Alameda County Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, please call 988 or (800) 309-2131. To leave a direct message for the Mobile Crisis Team, call (510) 981-5254.
Mental health crisis services are generally available to all people in Berkeley and do not require insurance or payment.
Contact the Mobile Crisis Team for urgent situations
The Mobile Crisis Team provides direct crisis services in the field for both adults and children. The phone number you can use to contact the team depends on the urgency of the crisis:
- If you are in a life-threatening emergency, please call 911 or (510) 981-5911 and ask the Police Dispatcher for Mental Health. Examples of when you might call 911 include situations of attempted suicide, homicide, assault, or physical threats.
- If you are in an urgent but not life-threatening situation, please reach out to Non-emergency Police Dispatch at (510) 981-5900 and ask for Mental Health. Examples of when you might request the Mobile Crisis Team through non-emergency dispatch include situations of drug abuse, severe psychotic behaviors, or to request a welfare check or an evaluation for psychiatric hospitalization.
- If you have a non-urgent message you would like to leave for the Mobile Crisis Team, please call (510) 981-5254. Examples of when you might call the Mobile Crisis Team non-urgent voicemail include to request a mental health consultation regarding a family member or information regarding a crisis service.
The Mobile Crisis Team is available on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 11:30 am to 10:00 pm. Please note the Mobile Crisis Team is not currently available on Tuesdays and Saturdays. If you have an emergency outside of these operating hours, please call 911.
The Mobile Crisis Team serves all residents of Berkeley and does not charge any fees. Staff speak English, Cantonese, French, and Hindi, and can also get translation services by phone for other languages.
Contact the Crisis, Assessment, Triage team to get connected with resources or treatment
If you or someone you know wants resources or treatment for a mental health condition, please contact the Crisis, Assessment, and Triage team at (510) 981-5244 or MentalHealth@cityofberkeley.info. You can also walk in to our Adult Mental Health Clinic at 2640 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Monday - Thursday, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm. Learn more about eligibility, how to access services, and what services are offered.
CRISIS SERVICES OUTSIDE OF BERKELEY
If you are looking for crisis services outside of Berkeley, you may contact one of the Mobile Crisis Teams in Alameda County.
- Community Assessment and Transport Team (CATT): One licensed clinician and one Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) who provide crisis interventions and medical clearance.
- Mobile Crisis Team (MCT): Two licensed clinicians who respond to mental health crisis calls from the community, providers, and mental health calls via 911.
- Mobile Evaluation Team (MET): One licensed clinician and one police officer who respond to mental health crisis calls via 911.
For more information about these services and how to contact them, please visit the Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services website or 988 Alameda County.
