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Massachusetts Has Launched A New 24/7 Free Crisis Helpline

By Carolyn Kruse

Charlie Baker is set to leave the office of Governor tomorrow. Before leaving, the 2 term governor set into place his Roadmap for Behavorial Health Reform Plan.

The plan includes a new 24/7 free crisis helpline. It also includes 25 new community behavioral health centers. In a statement released yesterday to the press, Baker said ““Over the past eight years, our administration has worked in partnership with providers, clinicians, and communities to strengthen capacity and access in the behavioral health system.”

Below, you will find all the details about the helpline as well as where to find the community centers. The centers are located throughout the state, serving the towns they are in as well as communites around them. The state is ready to address what has become a global problem, mental health, and aims to take the stigma out of getting help.

 

  • The Helpline

    If you are a Massachusetts resident and have mental health or substance use concerns, you can now call or text a 24/7 helpline. It’s free and confidential. Residents can call or text 833-773-2445 (BHHL), even if you don’t have insurance. You can also use the online chat at masshelpline.com.

    Danna Mauch, president and CEO of the Massachusetts Association for Mental Health, said in a statement Tuesday “The first-ever Behavioral Health Help Line is for all of us regardless of insurance and is designed as a 24/7 gateway to care system navigation — ensuring timely access to urgent care and robust crisis services integrated with Community Behavioral Health Centers (CBHCs) and designated primary and specialty care practices,”

     

  • CBHC: Community Behavioral Healthcare Centers

    According to boston.com, “The cornerstone of the roadmap is the opening of 25 new CBHCs, which are specially-designated mental health clinics that provide a comprehensive range of mental health and substance abuse disorder services. These clinics are meant to be an entry point for behavioral health services for residents of all income levels and legal status, the release said. To make this possible, they receive state funding and offer alternative payment models to make such services affordable.”

  • Where Are The Healthcare Centers?

    According to mass.gov, “CBHCs provide routine and urgnet outpatient services, crisis services, and community crisis services.” They are available to everyone, regardless of insurance. You’ll find a complete directory of CBHC locations HERE.

    Here are the towns where you will find a CBHC serving their surrounding communities:

    * Bedford

    * Boston

    * Brockton

    * Cambridge

    * Chicopee

    * Danvers

    * East Boston

    * Fall River

    * Framingham

    * Gardner

    * Greenfield

    * Hyannis

    * Lawrence

    * Leominster

    * Lowell

    * Lynn

    * Milford

    * Nantucket

    * Northhampton

    * Norwood

    * Pittsfield

    * Plymouth

    * Quincy

    * Springfield

    * Taunton

    * Waltham

    * Westfield

    * Worcester

     

  • Answers to your Helpline Questions

    You’ll find more details about this free, new service, open to everyone here:

    FAQ

    Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line

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