In Colorado, the public mental health system is overseen by the Behavioral Health Administration, a cabinet member led agency housed within the Colorado Department of Human Services. The state's crisis line is now the 988 Colorado Mental Health Line, which took over the old Colorado Crisis Services number, so you can call or text 988 at any hour for free support. NAMI Colorado, based in Englewood, offers support groups, classes, and a free legal consultation line at 303-321-3104.
To find ongoing care, with or without insurance, call Colorado LIFTS at 1-844-CO-LIFTS (265-4387) and a care navigator will help you look for services. Young people 18 and under can get up to six free therapy sessions through the state's I Matter program.
Colorado is divided into four Behavioral Health Administrative Service Organization regions, and each one coordinates mental health, substance use, and crisis care for people who are uninsured or underinsured. Region 1 alone covers more than 30 mountain, Western Slope, and southern counties, while the Denver metro area makes up Region 4. Walk in crisis centers serve the Metro Denver, Northeast, Southeast, and Western Slope regions, with locations from Fort Collins and Greeley to Pueblo and Montrose, and you can walk in regardless of ability to pay. Academic psychiatry is centered at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, and 211 Colorado covers all 64 counties if you need help with housing, food, or bills alongside mental health care.
Crisis lines
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Call or text 988 anywhere in the United States, including from Colorado. Free and confidential, 24 hours a day. For chat, visit 988lifeline.org.
- 988 Colorado Mental Health Line. Colorado's statewide line for emotional, mental health, or substance use concerns, free and available 24 hours a day by call, text, or chat. Since July 1, 2025, calls and texts to the former Colorado Crisis Services line (1-844-493-8255 or 38255) connect to 988 Colorado automatically.
- 211 Colorado. A confidential, multilingual service covering all 64 counties that connects you to food, housing, crisis counseling, and other local help. Dial 211 or (866) 760-6489 toll free, text your ZIP code to 898-211, or chat online.
Crisis care and mobile crisis
- 988 Colorado walk in centers. In person crisis support at walk in centers in Aurora, Denver, Wheat Ridge, Littleton, Louisville, Fort Collins, Greeley, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, and Montrose. The state says you can get help at a walk in center regardless of ability to pay.
State mental health authority
- Behavioral Health Administration: get help for mental health, drugs, or alcohol. BHA oversees Colorado's public mental health system and works with providers around the state. This page explains crisis options, types of mental health and substance use treatment, and how to find a provider.
- Health First Colorado. Colorado's Medicaid program, run by the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, offers low cost coverage for children and adults who qualify. Apply online or call the Member Contact Center at 800-221-3943.
NAMI Colorado
- NAMI Colorado. The state NAMI organization, based in Englewood, offers family support groups, Connection groups, and classes such as Basics, Family-to-Family, Peer-to-Peer, and Homefront, many run by local affiliates. Call 303-321-3104 or email [email protected].
- NAMI Colorado Law Line. A free, confidential, one time phone consultation with a volunteer licensed attorney on issues such as involuntary commitment, criminal cases, guardianship, and employment discrimination related to mental illness. Call (303) 321-3104 weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Community mental health centers
- Behavioral Health Administrative Service Organizations (BHASOs). Four regional organizations coordinate mental health, substance use, and crisis services for uninsured and underinsured Coloradans. Call Rocky Mountain Health Plans at 855-830-1562 for Region 1, or Signal Behavioral Health Network at 888-607-4462 for Regions 2, 3, and 4; the page has a county map.
Treatment locators
- OwnPath Care Directory and Colorado LIFTS. The state's directory for finding mental health, substance use, and crisis services in Colorado, with or without insurance. You can also call 1-844-CO-LIFTS (265-4387) to talk with a care navigator.
- FindTreatment.gov. The federal SAMHSA locator for mental health and substance use treatment. Search by ZIP code and filter by payment type.
University and academic medical centers
- CU Medicine Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic (University of Colorado Anschutz). A teaching clinic in Aurora that treats psychiatric conditions in all ages, with an intensive outpatient program and subspecialty clinics for bipolar disorder, substance use alongside other conditions, older adults, refugees, and young children. Adults need a referral from CU Medicine or UCHealth, but children under 18 don't; call 303-724-1000.
- CU Anschutz Psychiatry Residency. The University of Colorado School of Medicine's psychiatry training program, with rotations at University of Colorado Hospital, Denver Health Medical Center, the Denver VA Medical Center, and Children's Hospital Colorado.
Other state programs
- I Matter. A state program that connects youth 18 and younger (21 and younger for those in special education) with a licensed therapist for up to six free sessions, in person or by video. No insurance, credit card, or legal status information is needed.
- Colorado Agricultural Addiction and Mental Health Program (Colorado Farm Bureau). A program started by agriculture and behavioral health groups that offers farmers and ranchers free telehealth counseling vouchers with licensed providers who understand farm life. It's run by the Colorado Farm Bureau, not the state; call 303.749.7503 with questions.