If you feel there is an immediate risk of harm call 911.
- Let the dispatcher that this is a mental health crisis.
- Ask if a Crisis Intervention Team trained officer is on duty.
- Provide the dispatcher with:
- details of the situation, including any visible symptoms and underlying diagnoses,
- information about any weapons that have been used, and any weapons that are on the premises, and
- other information you think is relevant, especially if it may make it safer for everyone.
All Mainers experiencing a mental health crisis will have timely access to behavioral health professionals for supportive deescalation, stabilization, suicide prevention, and connection to ongoing care as needed. OBH follows SAMHSA’s National Best Practice for Crisis Care to provide the essential elements within a no-wrong-door integrated crisis system.
Someone to Talk To: Maine Crisis Line
The Maine Crisis Line (MCL) is Maine’s centralized crisis lifeline and the state’s mental health crisis line. The MCL is staffed 24/7 by clinically trained crisis workers who provide crisis intervention support by telephone, text and chat. Operators can also connect those in crisis with services in their area including community resources and referrals to outpatient services, mobile crisis response, local crisis units, and inpatient services.
Someone to Respond: Mobile Crisis Teams
Behavioral health crisis that cannot be resolved over the phone by the Maine Crisis Line and are not an imminent risk are referred to the mobile crisis team in their region. Mobile crisis teams are responders to specially trained to de-escalate mental health crises, assess needs, and provide anappropriate level of care in the least restrictive setting. Mobile crisis teams are dispatched by MCL and respond to the location of the person in crisis. Services are subject to MaineCare Rule.
A Place to Go: Crisis Receiving and Stabilization Facilities
Mobile crisis teams also offer walk-in stabilization facilities providing crisis stabilization services to all referrals in a home-like, non-hospital environment. Hours currently vary by provider but will be 24/7 in the near future.
Crisis Residential Services
Crisis Residential Services are individualized therapeutic interventions provided during a psychiatric emergency. Services are provided for a time-limited, post-crisis period in order to stabilize the member’s condition. These services may be provided in the member’s home, or in a temporary out-of-home setting and include the development of a crisis stabilization plan. Components of crisis residential services include:
- assessment;
- monitoring behavior and the member’s response to therapeutic interventions;
- participating and assisting in planning for and implementing crisis and post-crisis stabilization activities; and
- supervising the member to assure personal safety.
Services are subject to MaineCare Rule.
Peers & Recovery Coaches in Emergency Department
Though the Emergency Department should be a last resort for mental health crisis care unless there is imminent risk of self-harm or harm to others, OBH contracts with community hospitals to provide mental health peer support specialists and substance use recovery coaches in emergency departments around the state to assist individuals experiencing behavioral health crises. These specialists and recovery coaches utilize training and lived experience to help individuals in crisis by providing support to deescalate acute situations, assist individuals in self advocacy, and provide a connection to recovery supports in the community.
OBH currently contracts with seven regional hospitals to provide peer support in emergency departments statewide:
- Mid Coast Hospital, Brunswick
- Northern Light Mercy Hospital, Portland
- St. Mary’s Regional Hospital, Lewiston
- Eastern Maine Medical Center, Bangor
- Central Maine Medical Center, Lewiston
- York Hospital
- Northern Light AR Gould Hospital, Presque Isle
Maine Mental Health Crisis Service Providers
DHHS Contracted Mobile and Residential Crisis Providers
- Sweetser: District 1-York County
- The Opportunity Alliance (TOA): District 2- Cumberland County
- Sweetser: District 3 - Androscoggin, Franklin, and Oxford Counties
- Sweetser: District 4 - Waldo, Lincoln, Knox, Sagadahoc Counties
- Crisis & Counseling Centers: District 5 - Somerset and Kennebec Counties
- Community Health & Counseling Services: District 6 - Penobscot and Piscataquis Counties
- Aroostook Mental Health Services (AMHC): District 7 - Washington and Hancock Counties
- Aroostook Mental Health Services (AMHC): District 8 - Aroostook County
Maine Crisis Line & National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Call Center
- The Opportunity Alliance (TOA): Statewide
Tribal Crisis Response
- Wabanaki Care Line: Tribal Health District
State Psychiatric Hospitals
- Riverview Psychiatric Center (adults): Augusta, Statewide
- Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center (adults): Bangor, Statewide
Private Psychiatric Hospitals
- Northern Light Acadia Hospital (youth and adults): Bangor, Statewide
- Spring Harbor Hospital (youth and adults): Westbrook, Statewide
Private Hospitals with Psychiatric Inpatient Units
- Maine Medical Center (adults): Portland, Statewide
- MidCoast Hospital: Brunswick, Statewide
- Northern Maine Medical Center (youth and adults): Fort Kent, Statewide
- St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center (adults): Lewiston, Statewide
- Maine General (adults): Augusta, Statewide
- Southern Maine Health Care: Biddeford, Statewide
Veterans Hospital
- Togus: Augusta, Statewide