As we announced at the end of September, DHS has been testing a new phone number to connect people to crisis services. Testing of this number in the metro area has been completed, and the pilot of the new crisis number is now getting underway.

Starting Monday, January 8, individuals and service providers in the Twin Cities metro area, calling from a cell phone, can call one number — **CRISIS — and have their call seamlessly forwarded to their county crisis team.

At this time, **CRISIS is being piloted in the metro area only. The counties in the **CRISIS pilot are Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott and Washington. Eventually, **CRISIS will replace a list of 30 county crisis numbers across the state. As the system rolls out, a landline 800 number will be added for people without cell phones, especially in rural areas.

Note that during the pilot, in order not to miss any calls, if an individual outside of the metro area calls the number they will be routed to their local team as well. However, data collection will be focused on the metro area at this time. Also important is that the contractor was only able to set boundaries based on county lines not the reservations. Individuals will need to continue to dial the current number if they hope to reach a tribal team.

Statewide crisis provider meeting

During the February 13 statewide crisis provider meeting, we will discuss a plan to partner with crisis teams in the metro to promote the number within those communities.

Thank you again for your cooperation in partnering with the Department of Human Services to provide crisis services to Minnesotan’s.

Please contact Dominique.jones@state.mn.us with any questions.

For more information about mental health services in Minnesota, visit:

Children’s mental health / Adult mental health / Resources for partners and providers