Resources & Crisis Support – mentalhealthasp.org

Know Your Options

Steps to Take During a Crisis

⚠️ Before calling 911

If you or someone you know is in immediate, life-threatening danger and decide to call 911, please be aware that police are frequently not equipped to offer mental health support and may even pose danger to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, Transgender, Mentally Ill, Neurodivergent, and Disabled People. Please reach out to community leaders, neighbors, friends, and family to be present if you are calling the police. See below for crisis warm-lines that do not use police intervention.

🌐 Community-Based Alternatives (Santa Cruz County)

• Visit dontcallthepolice.com — resources with transparency about reporting policies (San Jose, CA is nearest to Santa Cruz in the directory).

• Search for mobile crisis or community response teams in your city.

• Call 211 in Santa Cruz County — 24/7 access to housing, food, and mental health services. Ask in advance whether they dispatch police if this is a concern.

🤝 Ask Trusted Loved Ones for Support

• Ask them to stay with you and make a plan together. You don't have to face this alone.

• If you do not want police or hospital intervention, communicate this clearly.

• Ask them to listen and empathize — not judge, give advice, or center their own feelings.

• If you are using substances, alcohol, or self-injury to cope, ask them to stay with you without judgment.

Crisis Support

Warm Lines — No Police Intervention

The warm-lines below offer transparency about their reporting and tracing policies. These services do not use police intervention.

🌸 Wildflower Alliance

Peer Support Line

1-888-407-4515

See website for hours

🦅 StrongHearts Native Helpline

24/7 confidential domestic & sexual violence helpline for Native Americans.

1-844-762-8483 · Call or chat online — 24/7

🏳️‍🌈 LGBT National Helpline

Free & confidential support for LGBTQIA+ people.

National: 1-888-843-4564

Coming Out: 1-888-688-5428

Youth: 1-800-246-7743

Senior: 1-888-234-7243

See website for hours

✊ Call Blackline

Peer support prioritizing BIPOC, with an LGBTQ+ Black Femme Lens.

1-800-604-5841 · Call or Text

🏳️‍⚧️ Trans Lifeline

Support by and for trans people. Oprime 2 para español.

US: 1-877-565-8860

Canada: 1-877-330-6366

See website for hours

💜 Thrive Lifeline

Trans-led, focusing on people with intersecting marginalized identities.

Text 24/7: 1-313-662-8209

🔥 Fireside Project

Support during and after psychedelic experiences.

623-473-7433 · Call or Text

11am – 11pm PT

National Resources

Hotlines with Mandated Reporting Policies

⚠️ Please use these resources with discretion.

The following crisis support resources may be mandated to report calls regarding suicide to the police (i.e., 'active rescue'). If this is a concern, we encourage you to first ask about their reporting policies before sharing your situation.

📞 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Available 24/7

Call or Text: (800) 273-8255

Deaf/HoH: (800) 799-4889

Text "DEAF" to 741741

🌎 Líneas de Crisis en Español

Prevención del Suicidio: 888-628-9454

Asalto Sexual: 1-800-656-4673

Love Is Respect (jóvenes): 1-866-331-9474

Salud Mental Perinatal: 1-800-944-4773 #1

Texto perinatal: 971-203-7773

Línea Maternal 24/7: 1-833-TLC-MAMA

🏳️‍🌈 Trevor Hotline

Crisis intervention for LGBTQ+ youth

866-488-7386

Text "START" to 678678

🌾 We R Native

For Native Youth, by Native Youth

Text "Native" to 741741 — Free, 24/7

🧠 NAMI Helpline

24/7 trained crisis counselors

Text "NAMI" to 741741

👶 Postpartum & Pregnancy Support

PSI: 1-800-944-4773

National Maternal 24/7: 1-833-TLC-MAMA

🏠 National Domestic Violence Hotline

(800) 799-7233

💙 RAINN

Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network

(800) 656-4673

🎖️ Veterans Crisis Line

(800) 273-8255

🍃 Alcoholism & Drug Dependency Hope Line

(800) 622-2255

💚 Lines for Life

Suicide & substance use specialists. Also: military & family, senior loneliness, teen crisis.

800-273-8255

Santa Cruz County & Beyond

Local & National Resources

Inpatient · Crisis

Acute Inpatient Mental Health – Telecare

The Santa Cruz County Psychiatric Health Facility (PHF) is a locked acute psychiatric inpatient program — a safe, recovery-focused place for people having a mental health emergency.

📍 2250 Soquel Ave, Suite 150, Santa Cruz, CA 95062

Youth

SC County Child & Adolescent Mental Health

Serves eligible youth at risk for out-of-home placement with serious emotional disturbances.

📞 (831) 454-4900 · 📍 1400 Emeline Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Substance Use

SC County Substance Use Disorders Services

Education, prevention, intervention, and recovery from substance use-related problems.

📞 (831) 454-4050 · 📍 1400 Emeline Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Adult Mental Health

County of Santa Cruz Adult Mental Health Services

Outpatient to inpatient services for transition-age youth, adults, and older adults.

Wellness

1440 Multiversity

A learning environment focused on nurturing all dimensions of well-being.

📞 (844) 544-1440

Employment

Workforce Santa Cruz County (WFSCC)

Career Centers offering services for businesses, employees, and job seekers.

Small Business

El Pájaro Community Development Corporation

Micro-enterprise and small business development for low-income & minority entrepreneurs.

📞 831-722-1224

Disability

California Department of Rehabilitation

Services and advocacy for employment, independent living, and equality.

📞 831-465-7100 (Capitola Office)

Veterans

Veterans Services of Santa Cruz County

Assists veterans, military retirees, and their families in obtaining earned benefits.

📞 (831) 454-7276 · 📍 1400 Emeline Ave, Santa Cruz

Legal Aid

The Watsonville Law Center (WLC)

Free legal services — worker rights, consumer protection, and barriers to employment.

📞 831-722-2845

Legal Aid

California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA)

Civil legal needs — housing, wage claims, public education, and public benefit denials.

📞 831-458-1089 / 831-724-2253

Immigration

Santa Cruz Immigration Project

Legal status, family reunification, and citizenship services.

📞 831-724-5667

Domestic Violence

Walnut Avenue Family & Women's Center

Domestic Violence, Youth Development, Family Literacy, and Early Childhood Education.

24-hr DV Hotline: 1-866-269-2559 · Office: 831-426-3062

Fatherhood

PAPÁS

Supporting father involvement and co-parenting.

📞 831-763-3123

Youth Prevention

Pajaro Valley Prevention & Student Assistance (PVPSA)

Education, training, counseling, and prevention for students in the Pajaro Valley USD.

📞 831-728-6445

Special Needs

SPIN

Resource for children with special needs in Santa Cruz County.

Early Childhood

First 5 Santa Cruz County

Programs to help children succeed in school and life.

📞 831-465-2217

Child Care

Child Development Resource Center

Information on childcare services for families and providers.

📞 831-466-5820

Victim Services

Victim/Witness Center – CA Dept. of Corrections

Notifications and support for victims and witnesses when an offender was sentenced to CDCR.

📞 831-454-2010

Seniors

Senior Information & Referral

Links older adults and persons with disabilities with services to support independent living.

📞 831-462-1433

Accessibility

Access Santa Cruz

Online resource guide for people with special needs — transportation, medical, and social services.

LGBTQ+

The LGBT National Help Center

Free and confidential peer counseling, information, and local resources.

📞 888-843-4564

LGBTQ+

Families Like Mine

Decreases isolation for people who have LGBTQ+ parents.

LGBTQ+ Youth

The Trevor Project

Leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ youth ages 13–24.

📞 866-488-7386

LGBTQ+ Youth

STRANGE

Supportive, educational, and social activities for LGBTIQ youth and their allies.

📞 (831) 429-8350 x119 · 📍 709 Mission Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

LGBTQ+ Youth

Trans* Teen Project

Supports transgender youth through self-expression, social networking, and community education.

LGBTQ+

The Diversity Center of Santa Cruz

Reaches ~10,000 individuals annually through programs, outreach, education, and school-based GSAs.

📞 (831) 425-5422 · 📍 1117 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062

Substance Use

Camp Recovery

Addiction and co-occurring recovery center. Specializes in substance use alongside depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder.

📞 (855) 598-3895

Substance Use

Coastal Turning Point

Confidential substance abuse treatment and individual and family counseling in Santa Cruz.

📞 (831) 234-2010 · 📍 147 South River St, Suite 234A, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Eating Disorders

The Lotus Collaborative

Holistic recovery center for eating, weight, exercise, and nutrition concerns. Serves teens (14+) and adults.

📞 (831) 600-7603 · 📍 603 Mission Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060