The 2026 Guide to State & Local Mental Health Helplines in California

Unlike Texas, California is anchored by a single, easy-to-remember statewide number. If you need mental health support in California, you can call or text 988 from anywhere in the state to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or reach out directly to your county’s dedicated access line below for local, ongoing care.

Statewide California Helplines

These resources are available to all California residents, regardless of county.

Service Name	Phone / Text	Best For…	Availability
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline	Call or Text 988	Immediate crisis support; routes automatically to your regional call center by area code.	24/7
CalHOPE Warm Line	(833) 317-4673 (English) / (833) 642-7696 (Spanish)	Peer support from counselors with lived mental health experience; not a crisis-only line.	24/7
California Youth Crisis Line	(800) 843-5200	Youth and teens facing homelessness, substance use, or crisis, plus their families.	24/7
California Peer-Run Warm Line	(855) 845-7415	Non-emergency emotional support from trained peers.	24/7

County-by-County Local Crisis Lines

Following are some of the county-specific crisis access lines in California. Unlike Texas’s regional LMHA network, California’s mental health crisis system is organized by individual county behavioral health departments, so the right number depends on where you are.

Los Angeles County

LACDMH 24/7 Help Line: (800) 854-7771

Notes: Centralized entry point for mental health and substance use crisis services countywide; select option 1 for crisis and mental health resources, deploys Psychiatric Mobile Response Teams.

San Francisco

SF Mobile Crisis Treatment Team: (415) 970-4000
Child Crisis Line: (415) 970-3800

Notes: Also home to the Dore Urgent Care Clinic, a 24/7 walk-in clinic at 52 Dore Street for immediate in-person help.

San Diego County

Access & Crisis Line (ACL): (888) 724-7240

Notes: Operated since 1997; available in 200+ languages. Callers dialing 988 from a San Diego-area code (619, 858, 760, 442) route here automatically.

Sacramento County

Sacramento County Behavioral Health: (916) 875-1055 or (888) 881-4881

Notes: 24/7 for mental health crisis calls; also connects to the Community Wellness Response Team for mobile crisis response.

Santa Clara County (San Jose)

Behavioral Health Call Center: (800) 704-0900, press 1

Notes: Entry point for urgent mental health services, Mobile Crisis Response Team, and the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline; local callers can also just dial 988.

Alameda County (Oakland)

Crisis Support Services of Alameda County: (800) 309-2131

Notes: 24-hour crisis line with language interpretation available; text support (text “SAFE” to 20121) available 4pm–11pm.

California “Warmlines” (For Non-Emergency Support)

Warmlines are for people who want someone to talk to about their mental health but aren’t in an emergency or crisis situation.

• California Peer-Run Warm Line: (855) 845-7415
  • Staffed by trained peers with lived mental health experience, for non-emergency emotional support.
• CalHOPE Warm Line: (833) 317-4673
  • 24/7 peer support for any Californian experiencing emotional distress, with a dedicated Spanish-language line.

How the California Mental Health System Works (FAQ)

Why does California use 988 instead of a state-specific number?

California uses the national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline as its front door, routing calls to one of 13 regional crisis call centers based on the caller’s area code. If a local center can’t take the call, it’s automatically routed to a national backup center. The state is also mid-way through a five-year plan (through 2030) to better coordinate 988, 911, and county behavioral health crisis services statewide, so some regional differences still exist.

Can I call my county crisis line if I don’t have insurance?

Yes. County behavioral health crisis lines generally serve residents regardless of insurance status or ability to pay, and can connect you to sliding-scale or no-cost care.

How do I find the crisis line for a California county not listed here?

Call or text 988, since it will route you to your regional center automatically, or check your county’s public health or behavioral health department website directly, since county lines and hours can change.

Disclaimer

This directory is for informational purposes to help Californians navigate local resources. If you are experiencing a life-threatening medical emergency, please dial 911 immediately or visit your nearest emergency room.