Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line
The Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line (BHHL) is here to connect you directly to clinical help, when and where you need it. Even if you’re not sure what kind of help or treatment you may need, we can help guide you.
- Call: (833) 773-2445
- Visit the website and Chat online: https://www.masshelpline.com/
- It’s free, confidential, and no health insurance is required.
- Real-time interpretation in 200+ languages
- Deaf or hard of hearing? Contact MassRelay at 711
Emergency Services Program
Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership (MBHP) Emergency Line:
An alternative to going to a hospital emergency room for those having a mental health or substance use crisis. Connects callers to the Emergency Services Program and Mobile Crisis Intervention in their area.
- Provides behavioral health crisis assessment, intervention, and stabilization services 24 hours per day/7 days per week/365 days per year
- Services for people of all ages and those who are uninsured, insured by MassHealth (Medicaid) plans, or Medicare
- Many Emergency Services Programs also contract with commercial insurance companies
Government Agencies
Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH)
25 Staniford Street, Boston, MA 02114
800-221-0053 (Info and Referral Line)
The Department of Mental Health, as the State Mental Health Authority, assures and provides access to services and supports to meet the mental health needs of individuals of all ages, enabling them to live, work, and participate in their communities.
- To receive DMH services, individuals must complete the service authorization process and be deemed eligible. Please visit the following website to check eligibility mass.gov/info-details/am-i-eligible-for-dmh-services
- Service authorization application is available in several languages
Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services (DDS)
66 Canal Street, Boston, MA 02114
mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/dds
The Department of Developmental Services is dedicated to creating, in partnership with others, innovative and genuine opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities to participate fully and meaningfully in, and contribute to, their communities as valued members.
Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), Bureau of Substance Abuse Services (BSAS)
250 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02108
mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/dph/programs/substance-abuse
Help is available for those with a drug or alcohol problem at helpline-online.org or by phone at:
TTY and ASCII Users: 800-720-3480
Voice and Hearing Users: 800-327-5050
The Bureau of Substance Abuse Services oversees the substance abuse and gambling prevention and treatment services in the Commonwealth. Responsibilities include licensing programs and counselors, funding and monitoring prevention and treatment services, providing access to treatment for the indigent and uninsured, developing and implementing policies and programs, and tracking substance abuse trends in the state.
MassHealth, Children’s Behavioral Health Initiative (CBHI)
CBHI’s mission is to ensure that children with MassHealth insurance coverage who have significant behavioral, emotional, and mental health needs and their families get the services they need for success in home, school, community, and throughout life.
- Three Community Service Agencies (CSAs) were chosen for their demonstrated ability to serve specific cultural or linguistic communities. Like all CSAs, these specialized CSAs serve any family seeking services regardless of race, ethnicity, or language.
- Children’s Services of Roxbury specializes in serving the African-American population in Greater Boston csrox.org
- The Gandara Center specializes in serving the Latino population in the Springfield/Holyoke area gandaracenter.org
- The Learning Center for the Deaf at the Walden School specializes in serving the deaf and hard-of-hearing population tlcdeaf.org
Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH)
600 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111
Voice: 617-740-1600, TTY: 617-740-1700
Video Phone: 617-326-7546, Toll Free Voice: 800-882-1155, Toll Free TTY: 800-530-7570
mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/mcdhh
The Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing is the principal agency in the Commonwealth working on behalf of people of all ages who are deaf and hard of hearing.
- Statewide interpretation and Communication Access Realtime Translation referral service
- Case management for deaf, late-deafened, and hard of hearing people in need of human services
- Assists with connecting deaf and hard of hearing people with mental health and substance abuse services
Massachusetts Office for Refugees and Immigrants (ORI)
600 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111
mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/ori
The Office for Refugees and Immigrants (ORI) promotes the full participation of refugees and immigrants as self-sufficient individuals and families in the economic, social, and civic life of Massachusetts.
- Community Partners Directory lists the organizations that partner with ORI to serve immigrants and refugees. The Community Partners Directory, English Language Resource Directory, and other key resources are available at www.mass.gov/doc/ori-community-partners-directory/download (PDF)
Mass 2-1-1
211 or toll-free 877-211-6277, TTY 508-370-4890
Dial 211 to learn about community resources including parent supports, mental health services, crisis intervention, substance abuse services, support groups, food pantries, and much more. This informational service is free and available in multiple languages.
Mass Options
Toll Free Phone: 844-422-6277 and online chat, available in English and Spanish
Connects those seeking services to the Aging and Disability Resource Consortia, state agencies like the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, and other organizations that provide services and supports to elders and persons with disabilities.
Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC)
600 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111
mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-rehabilitation-commission
The Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) helps individuals with disabilities to live and work independently. MRC is responsible for Vocational Rehabilitation, Community Living and eligibility determination for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) federal benefits programs. MRC provides comprehensive services to people living with disabilities that maximize their quality of life and economic self-sufficiency in the community. All programs have their own intake criteria including financial, medical, and other eligibility requirements.
Other Provider Organizations & Referral Resources
Advocates
1881 Worcester Road (Route 9 West), Framingham, MA 01701
24/7 Emergency Services for mental health or addiction crisis: 800-640-5432
Navigation to help families connect to services: 508-628-6801
Provides addiction services, autism services, help with employment issues as well as mental health counseling and emergency psychiatric services. Locations in Central Massachusetts, Boston, and Southeastern Massachusetts.
Asperger / Autism Network
51 Water Street, Suite 206, Watertown, MA 02472
Works with individuals, families, and professionals to help people with Asperger Syndrome and similar autism spectrum profiles build meaningful, connected lives.
Bay Cove Human Services
66 Canal Street, Boston, MA 02114
Provides care and services to individuals and families who face the challenges of developmental disabilities, mental illness, drug and alcohol addiction, and aging. Locations in Boston and Southeastern Massachusetts.
Brockton Area Multi-Services, Inc. (BAMSI)
10 Christy’s Drive, Brockton, MA 02301
Provides services for behavioral health, substance abuse, development/intellectual disabilities, and autism in areas across Massachusetts.
Cambridge Health Alliance
1493 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA 02139
Provides addiction services, mental health services and psychiatry, and support for victims of violence. Mental health programs for specific populations: Asian, Haitian, Latino, Portuguese, and Cape Verdean. Deaf services available at Cambridge Hospital.
Child Trauma Training Center, Centralized Referral System “LINK-KID”
Links children who would benefit from evidence-based trauma treatments to trained providers of these treatments in Massachusetts. Able to make referrals to treatment for youth aged 0-18 years old.
D.E.A.F. Inc.
215 Brighton Avenue, Allston, MA 02134
Offers health support services to the Deaf, Deaf Blind, Hard of Hearing, and Late-Deafened community of Greater Boston and Eastern Massachusetts.
Disability Law Center
11 Beacon Street, Suite 925, Boston, MA 02108
Private, non-profit Protection and Advocacy Agency for Massachusetts responsible for the rights of Massachusetts residents with disabilities. Provides information and referrals, technical assistance, and representation regarding legal rights and services for people with disabilities.
Family Resource Centers
Offers parenting programs, support groups, information and referrals, assessment services, early childhood services, and education programs for families whose children range in age from birth to 18 years old. Specific programs for families with children who may be frequently absent from or have serious problems at school, have serious problems at home, have run away from home, or are being exploited. Also provides specialized services for LGBTQ individuals.
Federation for Children with Special Needs
529 Main Street, Boston, MA 02129
Provides information, support, and assistance to parents of children with disabilities, their professional partners, and their communities. Has outreach coordinators who speak Spanish, Portuguese, and Chinese.
Haitian Mental Health Network
Organization comprised of mental health providers including psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists, mental health counselors, psychiatric nurses, and pastoral counselors who promote the mental health of Haitian individuals.
Japanese Bostonians Support Line
24/7 hotline that provides emotional support, information, and resources to Japanese and Japanese Americans in New England.
Justice Resource Institute
160 Gould Street, Suite 300, Needham, MA 02494
Provides behavioral health and trauma services as well as residential and educational services. Justice Resource Institute’s Health Law Institute provides advocacy and direct representation for individuals from vulnerable populations.
Massachusetts Association for the Deaf
P.O. Box 52097, Boston, MA 02205
Serves and advocates for the Deaf Communities in Massachusetts by promoting, preserving and protecting the civil, human, and linguistic rights of Deaf individuals.
Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership (MBHP)
200 State Street, Suite 305, Boston MA 02109
800-495-0086, TTY: 877-509-6981
Offers integrated medical and behavioral health care to MassHealth Members statewide. Website contains a “Find a Provider” search feature to help people locate behavioral health services in their community.
Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers
40 Court Street #10, Boston, MA 02108
Association representing the 50 community health center organizations in Massachusetts. Website contains a “Find a Health Center” search feature to help people locate the health center in their neighborhood.
- Community health centers often have bilingual staff who speak the languages of those who live in the community
- Some community health centers are contracted with MA Department of Public Health to provide refugee health assessments that include a behavioral health screening
Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery
29 Winter Street, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02108
Supports recovering individuals as well as their families and friends. Educates the public about recovery from alcohol and other addictions. Resources for Recovery Guide lists addiction and substance use services in Massachusetts and is available at moar-recovery.org/resources
MassLegalHelp.org
Website by Massachusetts legal aid programs to help people find information about their legal rights. Information available about health and mental health legal rights, housing rights, and rights of those experiencing homelessness as well as resources for immigrants, children and families, people with disabilities, and survivors of domestic violence.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), MA Chapter
NAMI MASS Compass Helpline: 617-704-6264
Monday through Friday, from 9 AM to 5 PM, available in English and Spanish
Peer-run phone line that helps those affected by mental health issues navigate the mental healthcare system in Massachusetts. Navigators are available to answer questions and refer to NAMI support and education programs and other community resources.
Parent/Professional Advocacy League (PPAL)
15 Court Square, Suite 600, Boston, MA 02108
Parent/Professional Advocacy League (PPAL) is the leading public voice for families whose children have emotional, behavioral, and mental health needs in Massachusetts. PPAL’s goals are to support families, nurture parent and youth leaders and work for systems change. PPAL’s programs focus on helping families and youth strengthen their knowledge and skills and ensure that their voices are part of every system that provides services for them. Support groups and educational events available in English, Spanish & Haitian Creole. PPAL’s Child, Teen, and Young Adult Resource Guide is available at ppal.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Child-Teens-and-Young-Adult-Resources.pdf
Saheli
P.O. Box 1345, Burlington, MA 01803
Community-based women’s organization focused on the needs of South Asians with services available in Bangla/Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi, Sindhi, Tamil, Telegu, Urdu, Kannada, Kashmiri/Dogri, Konkani, Malayan, Marathi, Nepali/Nepalese, and Pashto. Saheli’s online resource directory available at saheliboston.org/resources
Statewide Independent Living Council
Independent Living Centers provide information and referrals to persons with disabilities and their families. The centers also provide training in independent living skills and offer supports for persons with disabilities to participate in the community and have self-sufficiency. Map of independent living centers in Massachusetts available at masilc.org/findacenter
Transformation Center
98 Magazine Street, Roxbury, MA 02119
Statewide peer-operated training, technical assistance, and peer support networking organization. Facilitates the growth, well-being, and diverse voices and expressions of people in all stages of recovering their mental health and freedom from addictions and traumatic experiences. Peer-led coalitions include Asian American Voices of Recovery, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Recovery Project, Blacks United in Recovery, and Latinos en Accion.
Wayside Youth and Family Support Network
1 Frederick Abbott Way, Framingham, MA 01701
Provides mental health services to children, young adults, and families at many locations across Massachusetts. Available services include counseling; residential, day, and education services; services for young adults; community and outreach services; and care coordination.
Mental Health Education Materials in Multiple Languages
EthnoMed
ethnomed.org/patient-education
Patient education materials about mental health with many resources specifically for refugee communities.
MentalHealth.gov in Spanish
Resources and information about prevention, treatment, and recovery from mental health conditions. Website focuses on the importance of talking about mental health and engaging parents, young people, community leaders, and professionals serving Spanish-speaking populations.
Refugee Health Technical Assistance Center
Webinars for healthcare providers serving refugee communities and health education materials for refugees about mental health, suicide prevention, and communicable diseases. Bhutanese community members from across the U.S. were integral in adapting the Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) suicide prevention model to be culturally appropriate for refugee communities. Their feedback led to the development of the Refugee Suicide Prevention Training Toolkit which includes posters in Arabic, Burmese, Karen, and Nepali https://www.refugeehealthta.org/2012/08/22/qpr-gatekeeper-training/index.html
Selected Patient Information in Asian Languages (SPIRAL)
spiral.tufts.edu/topic_list.shtml
Patient education information developed by non-profit health organizations about a variety of health topics including mental health. Materials are available in Cambodian/Khmer, Chinese, Hmong, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Thai, and Vietnamese.