In the District of Columbia, the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) serves as the state mental health authority: it runs the District's crisis services and certifies the community providers that make up the public behavioral health system. DBH's Access HelpLine at 1-888-7WE-HELP (1-888-793-4357) is answered 24 hours a day by behavioral health professionals who can connect you with immediate help or ongoing care, and it can send mobile crisis teams. NAMI DC is temporarily on hiatus with its support groups suspended, so for now it points people to NAMI's national online support groups, 988 and the DBH Access HelpLine.
If a child or teen is in a mental health crisis, ChAMPS, run by Catholic Charities under a DBH contract, can come to your home or your child's school the same day; call 202-481-1440 any time.
DC is compact, and most public mental health care runs through DBH certified core service agencies, which the department lists with addresses in Northeast, Northwest, Southeast and Southwest; you can call a provider directly or ask the Access HelpLine to help you choose. Adults in a psychiatric emergency can go to DBH's psychiatric emergency program (CPEP) at 1905 E Street SE, open around the clock, and DBH's Community Response Team (202-673-6495) offers help 24 hours a day, including mobile crisis and outreach. Saint Elizabeths Hospital, east of the Anacostia River in Southeast Washington, is the District's public psychiatric hospital for people who need intensive inpatient care. Academic psychiatry is close by at George Washington University in Foggy Bottom and at Howard University Hospital's Mental Health Clinic on College Street NW. For help with housing, food or other social service needs, the District's 211 Warmline answers on weekdays.
Crisis lines
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Call or text 988 anywhere in the United States, including from the District of Columbia. Free and confidential, 24 hours a day. For chat, visit 988lifeline.org.
- DBH Access HelpLine. The District's main door to mental health services, staffed 24 hours a day by behavioral health professionals who can get you emergency psychiatric care, help you decide on ongoing care, or send a mobile crisis team. Call 1-888-7WE-HELP (1-888-793-4357); TTY 711.
- DC 211 Warmline. A nonemergency information and referral line for social service needs like housing, food and clothing, open to any DC resident. Dial 211 or (202) 463-6211, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; after hours, leave a voicemail and a call agent will call back within one to two business days.
Crisis care and mobile crisis
- Psychiatric emergency program (CPEP). Emergency psychiatric care and extended observation beds for adults 18 and older, open 24 hours a day at 1905 E Street SE. Call (202) 673-9319 or go in person.
- DBH Community Response Team. Behavioral health specialists, clinicians and peers who provide mobile crisis response, outreach and short term support for adults across the District. Call 202-673-6495 any time, or visit 35 K Street NE.
- ChAMPS (Child and Adolescent Mobile Psychiatric Service). A free emergency service for DC children ages 6 to 17 in a mental health crisis, run by Catholic Charities under contract with DBH; the team comes to your home or school the same day. Call 202-481-1440, 24 hours a day.
State mental health authority
- DC Department of Behavioral Health (DBH). The District agency for mental health and substance use services, including crisis care, services for children and adults, and peer services. Main office: 64 New York Avenue NE; call (202) 673-2200 on weekdays, or the Access HelpLine any time.
- Saint Elizabeths Hospital. The District's public psychiatric hospital for people with serious and persistent mental illness who need intensive inpatient care, run by DBH in Southeast Washington. It's also a teaching hospital with a psychiatry residency.
NAMI DC
- NAMI DC (temporarily on hiatus). NAMI DC's site says the organization is temporarily on hiatus and its support group meetings are suspended. It points visitors to NAMI's national online support groups, 988 for crisis, and the DBH Access HelpLine for services.
Community mental health centers
- DBH List of Community-based Service Providers. DBH's list of certified core service agencies, with addresses, phone numbers and whether each serves children and youth, plus a provider map. Services include diagnostic assessment, medication, counseling and community support.
Treatment locators
- FindTreatment.gov. The federal locator for mental health and substance use treatment. Search by DC zip code and filter by payment type.
University and academic medical centers
- George Washington University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health. Outpatient psychiatry at 2120 L Street NW in Foggy Bottom, with in person and telemedicine appointments. New patients can call 202-741-2888.
- Howard University Hospital Mental Health Clinic. Howard University Hospital's psychiatry and behavioral sciences clinic at 530 College Street NW. Call 202-806-7981.