SJC Exchange Library

The National Behavioral Health Crisis Care Guidance provides a framework for transforming behavioral health crisis care systems in communities throughout the United States with the goal of saving lives by helping anyone experiencing a behavioral health crisis anytime, anywhere. It also includes a draft of a detailed implementation guide for Mobile Crisis Team services in accordance with this newly released framework.

The National Guidance is comprised of two finalized documents:

• 2025 National Guidelines for a Behavioral Health Coordinated System of Crisis Care*
• 2025 Model Definitions for Behavioral Health Emergency, Crisis, and Crisis-Related Services*

The National Guidance also includes a draft of a detailed guide that is focused on Mobile Crisis Team (MCT) service delivery:

• Mobile Crisis Team Services: An Implementation Toolkit (Draft)*
  • SAMHSA is now accepting public comments on Mobile Crisis Teams: An Implementation Toolkit. Comments will be accepted through March 21, 2025 - Submit Your Comments

*This content is undergoing Section 508 remediation. If you need assistance to access this file, please contact 508@samhsa.hhs.gov

This National Guidance is built on three foundational elements that are essential within an integrated crisis care system with the goal that everyone should have access to:

• Someone to Contact: Services like the 988 Lifeline and other behavioral health hotlines provide immediate, accessible support.
• Someone to Respond: Services like Mobile Crisis Teams that deliver rapid, on-site interventions to de-escalate crises and connect individuals to care as well as Crisis Outreach Teams that provide complementary crisis prevention and postvention; and
• A Safe Place for Help: A wide array of stabilization services for behavioral health crisis and emergencies where people can receive immediate treatment and support as well as services that can aid in crisis prevention and postvention.

The guidance is intended to support communities in designing, implementing, and continuously improving their crisis care systems, ensuring that individuals in crisis receive timely and effective support.