The city of Berkeley has launched a new daytime mental health crisis line designed to help those in need and provide an alternative to police response to such calls.
The new crisis line, announced Friday, will be staffed on weekdays by experienced mental health professionals, city officials said. The line, (510) 981-5244, will offer support, consultation and resources to people having uncomfortable thoughts or emotions, or life challenges, city officials said.
Trained counselors will be available to talk and connect callers to the right resources, and determine if an immediate in-person evaluation for safety is needed.
The crisis line, to be staffed Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., is a pilot program within the Berkeley Mental Health Division funded by the California Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission.
The crisis line program is the result of a study in recent years showing that having police officers who are skilled at working with people in crisis is important. The assessment also identified a need for more mental health crisis response services to be one more alternative to law enforcement.
Outside of the crisis line hours of operation, help is available to those in crisis at the Berkeley Mental Health Clinic and by phone. Those in need of mental health resources can:
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