Strong As Granite

New Hampshire's behavioral health infrastructure is meant to provide immediate access for people in distress, connecting them with a real person who can help, any time of day or night.

Rapid Response is New Hampshire's crisis response system and includes call, text, chat but also the ability to dispatch mobile crisis response teams throughout New Hampshire communities.

The Doorways are low barrier access points for substance use supports and services, you call 211 to access your local Doorway.

988 is a nationwide helpline for emotional, mental or substance use crisis. 988 is a national resource with 200 call centers throughout the United States and includes call, text and chat and the contacts are routed by area code (call/text) and zip code (chat) to the nearest Lifeline. Most of the time you will get a New Hampshire Lifeline if you are calling/texting from a 603 area code. Sometimes you'll be routed to another center throughout the country, but all having trained staff on the other end. 

988 and Rapid Response calls, texts and chats are answered by trained, compassionate behavioral health professionals who know your local community's mental health and substance use resources. They will listen, offer support and work together with you to develop a plan for safety and recovery.

988 is available now in real-time via call, text, and chat. You can call, text or chat 24 hours a day, seven days a week - including holidays.

Rapid Response is available now in real-time via call, text, and chat. You can call, text or chat 24 hours a day, seven days a week - including holidays.

The Doorways are open Monday-Friday during business hours in most locations, however, there are on call clinicians over-night. This means that you can call 211 24 hours a day, seven days a week and speak to someone trained to help you connect to substance use resources and supports even on nights and weekends. There is also help with transportation and respite services when appropriate. 

Call, text or chat 988, Rapid Response or The Doorways right away if you’re:

• Worried about your safety or someone you know.
• Having a hard time managing strong emotions.
• Feeling hopeless, confused, angry or lonely.
• Worried about alcohol or drug use (substance use).
• Need information or referrals for local community services.
• Have something you need to talk about with someone outside of your current situation.
• Service member or veteran and their families in need.
• Stressed about work and having high anxiety.

If you need police, fire or ambulance services, you still call 911.

When you call, text or chat 988 or Rapid Response a trained behavioral health professional will answer. Many have a background in mental health or social work, and all are trained. They are there to listen with no judgment and help you process your feelings, think through your problem or situation, explore next steps and help you find a patch forward.

When you call 211 you reach New Hampshire’s statewide information and referral service.  You'll be connected with trained Information and Referral Specialists who can provide you with the health and human service information you need to get help including transferring your call to your local Doorway or overnight/weekend Doorway services. 

When Calling

You will first hear a greeting message while your call is routed to the local network crisis center (based on the caller’s area code).

You will be given four options in the following order: 

• Press 2 to connect with the Spanish network.
• Press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line.
• Press 3 for support for LGBTQI+, youth and young adults.
• Stay on the line or press 0 to talk with a counselor.

A trained behavioral health professional will answer the phone, listen to you, understand how your problem is affecting you, provide support and share resources as needed. If the local crisis center is unable to take your call, you will be automatically routed to a national backup crisis center.
 

Via Text

People who text "TALK" to 988 will be connected to crisis centers equipped to respond to texts. Once connected, a behavioral health professional will listen to you, work to understand how your problem is affecting you, provide support, and share resources that might be helpful.

If you prefer to chat

People seeking chat services are provided a pre-chat survey before connecting with a counselor that identifies the main area of concern. If there is a wait to chat with a crisis counselor, a wait-time message will appear. If demand is high, individuals can access the 988 "helpful resources" while waiting or call 988. Once connected, a behavioral health professional will listen to you, work to understand how your problem is affecting you, provide support and share resources that may be helpful.

988 provides easier access to local network resources, which are different from 911. 988 changes the perception of what to do in a mental health crisis. It is as important as having a physical emergency. It is an alternative to law enforcement as the primary intervention for mental health.

No. No one is automatically dispatched right when you call. The primary goal is to provide support for people in crisis, or in mental health-related or substance use distress, who don’t require on-site emergency services. Historically, 98% of the calls connecting to the Lifeline did not require emergency responders. The coordinated response is intended to promote stabilization in the community and nonrestrictive care.

A small percentage of calls requires the 911 system when there is immediate risk to someone's life that cannot be reduced during the 988 call. In these cases, the crisis counselor shares information with 911 that is crucial to saving the caller's life.

If you or someone you know has had a positive or negative experience when contacting these resources, the New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services would like to know.

Please do NOT share any identifying or confidential information about yourself or others. Only share information concerning the issue, date, time, and if it was a call, text, or chat experience.

Please reach out: DBHCrisisTransformation@dhhs.nh.gov

These changes are an opportunity to strengthen the community-based crisis response system designed to care for New Hampshire children, youth, adults, and families experiencing a mental health and or substance use crisis. Many dedicated professionals who work in New Hampshire’s behavioral health system are dedicated to successfully implementing this new model. While partners have worked hard to get to this point, system improvement continues to ensure each communities’ unique needs are being met.