988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline:

Hours: Available 24 hours. Languages: English, Spanish

“988 has been designated as the new three-digit dialing code that will route callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (now known as the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), and is now active across the United States.

When people call, text, or chat 988, they will be connected to trained counselors that are part of the existing Lifeline network. These trained counselors will listen, understand how their problems are affecting them, provide support, and connect them to resources if necessary.
The previous Lifeline phone number (1-800-273-8255) will always remain available to people in emotional distress or suicidal crisis.” – 988lifeline.org

911 CIT Trained Officers

For a mental health emergency or suicide attempt in progress, call 911 first. It is imperative that you remain calm until professional help arrives.

• Specifically tell the operator this: “I am requesting the aid of a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) officer.” The operator will then send specially trained law enforcement officers, if available; who are trained in dealing with individuals undergoing a mental illness crises. You can request that officers arrive without lights or sirens.Tallahassee Police Department and Leon County Sheriff’s Office Central Dispatch – The new 24 hour non-emergency number is 850.606.5800. Ask for a CIT trained officer or deputy.
• 2-1-1 Big Bend: Call 211 or 850.617.6333 or callers can text their zip code to 898211. The agency provides 24-hour access to a free, confidential hotline. 2-1-1 Big Bend is a private, telephone counseling, crisis intervention and referral service in Tallahassee (formerly known as the Telephone Counseling and Referral Service.) The agency also provides a referral database on their website. Just as you would call 9-1-1 for emergencies, you can call 2-1-1 for human service information and assistance. They are available 24 hours a day to listen and provide emotional support, crisis counseling, suicide prevention, and information & referrals. You do not have to be in crisis to call, there is no eligibility criteria, and their services are free. They help you navigate through the maze of community services in a nonjudgmental manner. Because life is 24/7, so are they. For more information, link to: www.211bigbend.org.
• Florida Highway Patrol – Dial *FHP from any cellular phone. This call is airtime free.If this is a repeat crisis with a known history of a severe mental illness, it is essential that you tell the officers when they arrive. You can assist in getting the individual immediate help by using an important tool of involuntary examination and treatment called the “Baker Act”. The Florida Baker Act law permits crisis center mental health care providers to evaluate and treat your loved one during a 72 hour period, if the following two criteria are met for someone believed to be experiencing harmful effects from a severe mental illness: (1) the person’s condition and behavior puts themselves or others in danger, and (2) the person is unable to understand or determine their own need for treatment. If the officers believe that a crisis center mental health professional is better suited to make the initial evaluation, the officers will then transport the individual to either Apalachee Center, Inc or Tallahassee Memorial Hospital.
• To initiate involuntary commitment proceedings (Florida’s Baker Act), call the Leon County Probate Court 850.577.4180. For more information regarding the Baker Act process in Leon County, visit the Leon County Clerk of Courts’ website linked here.

We recommend:
Listening to the podcasts from NAMI National shared on this page to develop a good understanding of early psychosis and to promote recovery strategies rooted both in experience and in the latest science.

If there is no suicide attempt or serious medical condition, and you feel that you do not need law enforcement assistance, but can safely transport the individual; you should first phone one of the receiving facilities:

The Apalachee Center, Inc., 2634 Capital Circle NE, Tallahassee, FL, provides comprehensive mental health services for Leon and surrounding counties – providing adult and children’s services. Call 850.523.3303 for 24 hour evaluation and admissions, or toll free at 800.226.2931 for emergencies outside of Leon County. Serving the 8 counties of the Big Bend region in North Florida, Apalachee Center includes Eastside Psychiatric Hospital, Capital Therapy, Crisis Stabilization, and Detox services, as well as five residential programs and eight outpatient clinics throughout the Big Bend region. One component of Apalachee crisis services includes PATH (Positive Alternative to Hospitalization). PATH is a short-term inpatient program designed to prevent hospitalization and stabilize a crisis. Effective July 1, 2017, Apalachee Center, Inc. began service as the Central Receiving Facility for Baker Act evaluations, 850-523-3483. Visit www.apalacheecenter.org for more details and services.

Capital Regional Behavioral Health Center, 2626 Capital Medical Blvd., Tallahassee, FL is a 24-bed treatment center which treats a wide range of behavioral health diagnoses for adults 18 and over. A Baker Act receiving facility since May 2015, CRMC provides medication management, led by the psychiatrist, as well as individual and group-based therapy programs. Call 850.325.5757 or go to www.CapitalRegionalMedicalCenter.com.

Tallahassee Memorial Hospital -The TMH Behavioral Health Center provides emergency psychiatric evaluations through the Direct Admissions Program and The Behavioral Emergency Services Team (BEST). The Direct Admissions program provides psychiatric evaluations for children and adults experiencing a mental health and/or substance abuse emergency through walk-in and/or community referral Monday-Friday from 8AM-5PM.

The Behavioral Emergency Services Team (BEST) provides emergency psychiatric evaluations for persons experiencing a mental health and/or substance abuse crisis 24/7 in both the Bixler and Northeast Emergency Departments. This program is intended for children and adults who require medical attention through the Emergency Department prior to receiving a psychiatric evaluation or for any individual who needs psychiatric triage. A mental health and/or substance abuse emergency can range from thoughts of suicide and/or self-harm, extreme mood disorders, substance abuse withdrawal, or any other mental health condition that poses a significant impact on quality of life and safety.

Individuals will receive triage from a behavioral health nurse and psychiatrist in order to determine the most appropriate level of care, Individuals are encouraged to seek treatment as soon as possible through one of these services and will be actively involved in the treatment process.

Direct Admission is operable Monday-Friday from 8 am-5 pm (including holidays). Direct Admissions is located at TMH Behavioral Health Center and walk-ins are welcome, The Direct Admissions nurse can be reached at 850.431.0919

The Behavioral Emergency Services Team (BEST) 24-hour administrative number is 850.431.4883.

The 24-hour phone directly to the TMH Behavioral Health Center is 850.431-5100. Link to the website for the Behavioral Health Center here.