Massachusetts mental health care is administered through the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, which oversees public behavioral health programs and community mental health services across the state. Crisis support is available 24/7 through 988. NAMI Massachusetts affiliates and the state's 211 services provide peer support and local navigation.
Massachusetts administers public mental health services through the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health. The resources below cover state-level crisis lines, the state mental health authority, the NAMI state affiliate, and other Massachusetts-specific points of contact for anxiety, depression, and related conditions.
Massachusetts has one of the highest concentrations of academic psychiatry in the country, with multiple Harvard-affiliated programs alongside Boston University, Tufts, and UMass Chan. The state's Behavioral Health Help Line (833-773-2445) provides free, 24/7 routing to evaluation and treatment for any resident. Wait lists for outpatient psychiatry remain long even in metropolitan Boston.
Crisis lines
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Call or text 988 anywhere in the United States, including from Massachusetts. Free and confidential, 24/7. For chat, visit 988lifeline.org.
- Massachusetts 211. Dial 211 from anywhere in Massachusetts for non-emergency help connecting to mental health, substance use, housing, food, and basic-needs referrals.
State mental health authority
- Massachusetts Department of Mental Health. The SAMHSA-designated state authority for public behavioral health programs, community mental health services, and licensing in Massachusetts. Phone: 617-626-8097.
NAMI Massachusetts
- Find a NAMI affiliate in Massachusetts. NAMI Massachusetts affiliates run free education programs, support groups, and advocacy. NAMI HelpLine: 800-950-NAMI (6264). Text NAMI to 62640. For crisis, call or text 988.
Treatment locators
- FindSupport.gov / SAMHSA Help Finder. Federal tool for finding health care, support, treatment options, and payment information. 1-877-SAMHSA-7 (1-877-726-4727).
- FindTreatment.gov. Federal treatment locator searchable by Massachusetts zip code for mental health and substance-use treatment programs.
University and academic medical centers
The academic medical centers in Massachusetts operate outpatient psychiatry clinics. Wait times for new patients are often several weeks, and some specialty programs may have longer wait lists.
- Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Psychiatry. Department of psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital.
- McLean Hospital. Department of psychiatry at McLean Hospital.
- Brigham and Women's Hospital Department of Psychiatry. Department of psychiatry at Brigham and Women's Hospital.
- Boston University Department of Psychiatry. Department of psychiatry at Boston University.
- UMass Chan Medical School Department of Psychiatry. Department of psychiatry at UMass Chan Medical School.