In North Dakota, every call, text or chat to 988 is answered by FirstLink in Fargo, and a counselor there can connect you to a mobile crisis team or a crisis facility if you need more help. Public mental health care is run by the Behavioral Health Division of North Dakota Health and Human Services through eight regional Behavioral Health Clinics, which were called human service centers until the 2025 Legislature approved the new name. NAMI North Dakota offers free support groups in Fargo and Grand Forks along with education classes.
Each of the eight Behavioral Health Clinics takes walk in assessments on weekdays and offers crisis care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so you don't need a referral to get started.
North Dakota's public behavioral health system is built around eight regional Behavioral Health Clinics in Bismarck, Devils Lake, Dickinson, Fargo, Grand Forks, Jamestown, Minot and Williston, with outreach offices in Grafton, Rolla, Valley City and Watford City. You can walk into any clinic between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Central time on weekdays for a behavioral health screening, and crisis facilities in all eight regions take walk ins 24 hours a day. Mobile crisis teams coordinated through the clinics can meet you at home, work or school. The clinics also list farmer and veteran mental health support among their services, and the state Department of Agriculture keeps a page of farm and ranch stress resources. The state's psychiatry residency, run by the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Fargo, includes training in telemedicine for rural areas.
Crisis lines
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Call or text 988 anywhere in the United States, including from North Dakota. Free and confidential, 24 hours a day. For chat, visit 988lifeline.org.
- 988 in North Dakota (ND Health and Human Services). The state's 988 page explains what happens when you call, including how counselors connect people to mobile crisis teams and walk in crisis facilities. People with intellectual or developmental disabilities can also reach a specialized CARES crisis team through 988.
- FirstLink (988 and 211 for North Dakota). The Fargo nonprofit that answers all 988 contacts from North Dakota and runs the state's 211 helpline. Dial 211 or 701-235-7335, or text your ZIP code to 898-211, for listening and referrals to local resources.
- Recovery Talk. A free, anonymous state line where you can talk with a trained peer support specialist about recovery from addiction, day or night. Call or text (701) 291-7901, and you can also sign up for scheduled check in calls.
Crisis care and mobile crisis
- Mobile crisis teams and crisis facilities. Mobile crisis teams coordinated through the Behavioral Health Clinics can meet a person at home, work or school. Crisis facilities in all eight regions take walk ins 24 hours a day for screening and short term, recovery focused care.
- North Dakota State Hospital. The state psychiatric hospital in Jamestown, providing acute inpatient psychiatric care and substance use treatment for adults whose needs go beyond what community services can provide.
State mental health authority
- Behavioral Health Division, North Dakota Health and Human Services. The division that oversees the state's behavioral health system, including the regional Behavioral Health Clinics and the State Hospital. The main HHS number is (701) 328-2310.
NAMI North Dakota
- NAMI North Dakota. The state NAMI organization offers free support groups, classes like NAMI Basics and NAMI Homefront, and school presentations such as Ending the Silence. Reach the office through the contact form on its site.
- NAMI North Dakota support groups. Free NAMI Connection groups for adults living with a mental health condition and Family Support Groups for loved ones, meeting in Fargo and Grand Forks. Check the calendar for current times and locations.
Community mental health centers
- Regional Behavioral Health Clinics. The state's eight public Behavioral Health Clinics offer walk in assessment and same day care, 24 hour crisis services, therapy, peer support and medication services. A sliding fee scale is available based on income.
Treatment locators
- FindTreatment.gov. SAMHSA's free, confidential search tool for mental health and substance use treatment. Filter by location, type of care and payment options.
- FirstLink 211 resource directory. FirstLink keeps a searchable directory of more than 5,400 programs across North Dakota and nearby Minnesota, reviewed at least once a year. You can search it online or call 211 and ask a specialist.
University and academic medical centers
- UND Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science. The University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences psychiatry department, based in Fargo (701.293.4112). Its Rural Psychiatry Program trains doctors in telehealth and collaborative care for rural communities.
- UND Psychiatry Residency Program. The adult psychiatry residency in Fargo, which trains at Sanford Health, the Fargo VA, the North Dakota State Hospital and community mental health centers. UND does not own its own hospital.
Other state programs
- Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance (North Dakota Department of Agriculture). A state page that gathers help for farmers and ranchers, including the North Dakota Mediation Service for credit and financial disputes (701-328-2308), counseling contacts and NDSU Extension stress resources.