24/7 Crisis Resources for Mental Health Care When experiencing mental illness or substance abuse, a mental health crisis can escalate quickly and it can feel overwhelming. It’s important to get the support you or a family member needs and address a mental health emergency immediately. Here is a resource list of 24/7 crisis hotlines. These helplines are free and confidential. Vaya Health Access Services Line 24-hour crisis management and appointment hotline serving western North Carolina 1-800-849-6127 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 24-hour suicide prevention hotline serving all of the United States 1-800-273-TALK (8255) Vets Press 1 suicidepreventionlifeline.org Substances Abuse Mental Health and Services Administration (SAMHSA) 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders 1-800-662-HELP (4357) Behavioral Health Urgent Care 1-800-848-0180 C3356 Comprehensive Care Center356 Biltmore AvenueAsheville, NC 28801 Build a Safety Plan: Healthy Ways to Manage in a Crisis: Whether you or someone you love is experiencing a crisis situation, here are some tools that can help. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call a mental health professional, your local crisis center or 911, or go to the emergency room. Step 1: Be aware of some of the warning signs: Thoughts: Self-injury, thoughts of death such as “I don’t think I can go on”, “my life is hopeless”, or “things would be better if I was dead”, wanting to hurt someone else, being self-critical, auditory or visual hallucinations. Emotions: Panic, loneliness, hopelessness, anger, feeling overwhelmed or out of control, or disconnected. Behaviors: Social withdrawal, uncontrolled anger, not taking prescription medication, craving or using of drugs or alcohol to escape, binging and/or purging, being reckless, engaging in unprotected sex, and spending too much money. Step 2: Practice coping strategies – activities that help distract me from distressing thoughts and feelings: Relaxation techniques Physical activity Listening to music Watching a movie/TV Going for a walk Playing video games Journaling Drawing Painting Prayer Take a hot shower Step 3: Seek people and social settings that help you feel better and provide comfort or distraction, such as: Friends and family, including parents, significant other and acquaintances Spiritual leaders 356 Biltmore Ave peer living room Coffee houses, bookstores, parks, religious centers and places to window-shop Step 4: Make the environment safe by removing items you could use to harm yourself, including guns, knives, razors, ropes, medications, etc. Step 5: Contact professional help, such as mental health services or crisis services. - Call us at 828-213-4696 or one of the 24-hour resources above.