The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities. It helps prepare states and communities to provide an effective response after a disaster.

If you or someone you know needs help right now, please use the resources below to find help:

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255) – If you’re in a suicidal or emotional crisis, please call this 24-hour hotline to reach a crisis center. You may also use the Lifeline Crisis Chat found on the site.
• Disaster Distress Helpline 1-800-985-5990 – Call to get help with common reactions like stress, anxiety, and depression. The helpline can also guide you to more information, support, and counseling to help you cope.
• SAMHSA’s National Helpline 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or TDD 1-800-487-4889 – Get help for mental and substance use disorders, prevention, and recovery. This is a free, 24-hour, confidential treatment referral and information service. (English & Spanish)
• Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator – Find alcohol, drug abuse, and mental health treatment services around the country.

You can also visit the Find Help page for other crisis help and treatment locations.

Below is a list of some of SAMHSA’s Disaster Behavioral Health services.

Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program (CCP)

The CCP is a grant program for mental health authorities funded by FEMA and administered by SAMHSA.

The program can offer you and your community help to aid in recovery from the effects of disasters. It does this through community-based outreach and educational services.

SAMHSA Disaster Technical Assistance Center (SAMHSA DTAC)

The SAMHSA DTAC helps prepare approved entities to deliver an effective mental health and substance abuse response to disasters. These include the following:

• States,
• Territories,
• Federally recognized tribes, and
• Other local entities.

Services offered include:

• Technical assistance, training, and consultation.
• Disaster behavioral health resources.
• Information exchange and knowledge brokering.

SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline (SAMHSA DDH)

The SAMHSA DDH is a national hotline that offers year-round disaster crisis counseling. If you feel distressed after a disaster, and live in the U.S. or its territories, you can use this service. It’s toll-free, multilingual, crisis support, and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

• You can call or text to connect to trained counselors at the closest crisis counseling center.
• Helpline staff provides counseling and support, and can help you learn how to cope with common stress reactions. They can also provide referrals to local resources for follow-up care.
• To learn more, visit the SAMHSA website.

SAMHSA Disaster App

The Disaster App makes it easy for disaster responders to provide quality support to survivors. From the touch of a button, you can learn about:

• Pre-deployment preparation,
• On-the-ground assistance,
• Post-deployment resources, and more.

You can share resources, like tips for helping survivors cope, and find local behavioral health services. Responders at all stages of deployment can also find self-care support.

SAMHSA's website offers free information and resources to anyone who is in crisis, or with or at risk for substance abuse and mental health problems. There’s also information for families, caregivers, and service providers.

If you need help right away, the site offers several crisis lines you can call to find help.

The CCP requires a presidential disaster declaration before states, territories, and federally recognized tribes may apply.

SAMHSA DTAC offers free services and materials to support disaster behavioral health professionals and other first responders. Many of the resources are available to everyone on the DTAC site.

The SAMHSA Disaster App is also free and is available to disaster responders on iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry devices.

The services below are free and available with no application process:

• SAMHSA Disaster Distress Hotline, and
• SAMHSA Disaster App (for disaster responders).

For states, territories, federally recognized tribes, and other local entities, please use the CCP and SAMHSA DTAC contacts listed in the contact section below to learn more.