When a mental health crisis happens, it can feel terrifying, isolating, and confusing. But you don’t have to navigate it alone. In Tennessee, emergency psychiatric services are available 24/7 to provide life-saving care, stability, and hope—right when you need it most.
Understanding Emergency Psychiatric Services
Think of emergency psychiatric services as your mental health safety net. These are specially trained professionals who step in when symptoms become too severe to wait for your next therapy appointment or when the weekend feels impossibly long. Whether you’re experiencing suicidal thoughts, overwhelming anxiety that won’t let you breathe, or a complete break from reality, there are people standing by who know exactly how to help.
These services aren’t just about crisis management—they’re about meeting you where you are with compassion and clinical expertise. You might connect with them through a mobile crisis team that comes directly to you, walk into an emergency department, or visit a specialized crisis center. The staff includes licensed therapists, psychiatric nurses, social workers, and psychiatrists who understand that behind every crisis is a person deserving of dignity and care.
The support typically includes crisis assessments to understand what’s happening right now, immediate stabilization to help you feel safer, safety planning for the hours and days ahead, medication when it’s needed, and connections to ongoing care so you’re not left hanging after the immediate crisis passes.
Services often include:
- Crisis assessments
- Stabilization support
- Immediate safety planning
- Medication if needed
- Connections to ongoing care
You may access them through mobile crisis teams, emergency departments, walk-in centers, or crisis stabilization units, all staffed by licensed therapists, psychiatric nurses, social workers, and psychiatrists.
Recognizing When It’s Time to Reach Out
Sometimes the hardest part isn’t getting help—it’s knowing when to ask for it. There are moments when waiting simply isn’t safe, and recognizing these situations can literally save a life.
Immediate Crisis Situations
Call immediately if someone is experiencing:
- Suicidal thoughts or behaviors – Any expression of wanting to die or hurt oneself
- Homicidal ideation – Thoughts or plans to harm others
- Severe psychosis – Hallucinations, delusions, or a break from reality
- Extreme agitation or violence – Uncontrollable behavior that poses danger
- Complete inability to function – Inability to perform basic daily activities
Some situations require immediate action. If you or someone you know is expressing any desire to die or hurt themselves, it’s time to call for help right now. The same urgency applies when someone is having thoughts about harming others, experiencing severe hallucinations or delusions that disconnect them from reality, showing uncontrollable behavior that puts themselves or others in danger, or has become completely unable to perform basic daily activities like eating or maintaining safety.
Warning Signs Requiring Urgent Attention
Other warning signs might develop more gradually but still need urgent attention. Watch for sudden, dramatic shifts in behavior or mood that seem completely out of character. When someone can no longer care for themselves—skipping meals, ignoring hygiene, or making dangerous choices—it’s time to intervene. A substance abuse crisis combined with mental health symptoms creates a particularly dangerous combination that requires professional help. Severe panic attacks that won’t respond to usual coping strategies, or when someone becomes completely withdrawn or catatonic, also warrant immediate attention.
- Sudden, dramatic changes in behavior or mood
- Inability to care for oneself (eating, hygiene, safety)
- Substance abuse crisis with mental health symptoms
- Severe panic attacks
- Catatonia or extreme withdrawal
If there’s immediate danger, call 911. Otherwise, call 988 and press 0 to reach Tennessee’s crisis services.
What Happens During a Crisis Evaluation
Walking into a crisis evaluation can feel intimidating when you’re already overwhelmed. Knowing what to expect can help reduce some of that anxiety and help you feel more prepared to get the care you need.
Step-by-Step Protocol
1. Initial Contact and Triage
- Registration and safety screening
- Initial triage by a mental health professional
- Medical clearance to rule out physical health causes
2. Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluation
- Mental status examination
- Risk assessment
- History gathering
- Collateral information (with consent)
3. Crisis Stabilization and Treatment
- Immediate medication management
- De-escalation techniques
- Safety planning
- Brief therapy interventions
4. Disposition Planning
- Discharge with safety plan
- Admission to crisis stabilization unit
- Transfer to inpatient care
- Connection to outpatient services
Tennessee’s Emergency Psychiatric Services Network
Tennessee has built an impressive network of crisis services, and understanding your options can help you get the right care quickly.
Mobile Crisis Services: Help That Comes to You
Call or text 988, press 0 to connect with a Tennessee-based crisis counselor 24/7.
Mobile Crisis Services
- Available for adults and children
- Telephone crisis counseling
- In-person/telehealth assessments
- Symptom stabilization and safety planning
- Treatment referrals and follow-ups
Walk-In Crisis Centers: No Appointment Needed
Tennessee currently operates 9 adult walk-in crisis centers, with more planned to open soon. These centers provide 24/7 evaluations without needing an appointment, immediate mental health crisis intervention, up to 23-hour observation when you need close monitoring but not full hospitalization, and direct referrals to ongoing treatment services.
- 9 adult centers (with more opening soon)
- 24/7 evaluations
- Mental health crisis intervention
- 23-hour observation
- Treatment referrals
Crisis Stabilization Units (CSUs)
Crisis Stabilization Units (CSUs) offer something truly special—free, voluntary, short-term intensive care when you need more support than outpatient services can provide but less than full hospitalization. The average stay is about 3 days, during which you receive round-the-clock psychiatric care, individual and group therapy, peer support from others who understand what you’re going through, and careful discharge planning to set you up for success.
- Free, voluntary, short-term intensive care
- 3-day average stay
- 24/7 psychiatric care
- Therapy and peer support
- Discharge planning
Getting Help Without Financial Stress
One of the biggest barriers to seeking mental health care is often cost, but Tennessee has worked to remove many of these financial obstacles during crisis situations.
- 988 & mobile crisis: Free
- CSUs: Free
- Community clinics: Income-based
- Hospitals: Emergency Medicaid/financial aid
Call 988 if you’re unsure what you qualify for.
How Law Enforcement and Mental Health Services Work Together
The relationship between police and mental health services has evolved significantly, with many Tennessee communities now taking a more collaborative approach to crisis response.
Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT)
Many police officers in Tennessee have completed 40 hours of Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training. This specialized education helps officers recognize mental health symptoms, use de-escalation techniques effectively, connect people with treatment instead of jail when appropriate, and maintain safety for everyone involved. When an officer with CIT training responds to a mental health crisis, they’re equipped to handle the situation with greater understanding and skill.
Co-Response Programs
Some communities have developed innovative co-response programs that pair mental health professionals directly with law enforcement or emergency medical services. Programs like Nashville’s Partners in Care (PIC) and REACH put crisis counselors right alongside officers and paramedics, ensuring that mental health expertise is available immediately when crisis situations arise.
Special Populations and Emergency Psychiatric Services
Mental health crises don’t look the same for everyone, and Tennessee’s emergency services recognize that different populations need different approaches to care.
Children and Adolescents
Young people experiencing mental health crises receive care in separate facilities designed specifically for their needs. These programs prioritize family engagement, coordinate with schools when appropriate, and use staff with specialized training in adolescent development and mental health. The approach recognizes that teens and children aren’t just small adults—they need age-appropriate care that considers their developmental stage and family dynamics.
Older Adults
Emergency psychiatric services for older adults often integrate medical care more closely, since physical and mental health are frequently intertwined in this population. Services include careful medication monitoring, cognitive assessments to rule out conditions like dementia, and strong social support components that recognize the unique challenges older adults face.
Veterans
Veterans have access to specialized crisis services that understand military culture and experience. Calling 988 and pressing 1 connects veterans directly with the Veterans Crisis Line. VA medical centers offer 24/7 services, and many programs specifically train their staff in military cultural competence to provide more effective care.
Preparing Before a Crisis Hits
Getting Ready Before Crisis Strikes
While we can’t always prevent mental health crises, we can prepare for them in ways that make getting help easier and more effective.
Creating Your Personal Crisis Plan
A crisis plan is like a roadmap you create when you’re thinking clearly to guide you or your loved ones when thinking becomes difficult. Include your personal warning signs—the thoughts, feelings, or behaviors that signal you’re moving toward crisis. List important contact numbers including your therapist, psychiatrist, trusted friends or family members, and local crisis services. Note your preferred facilities if you have experience with local services. Keep an up-to-date medication list including dosages and prescribing doctors. Write down specific instructions for how others can best support you during a crisis.
Building Your Support Network
Identify people in your life who can recognize when you’re in crisis, are willing and able to take you to get care if needed, can communicate with healthcare providers on your behalf if necessary, and will support you through recovery after the immediate crisis passes. Having these relationships established and these conversations beforehand makes everything easier when you’re in the middle of a crisis.
Technology’s Role in Modern Crisis Response
Technology has transformed how crisis services operate, often making them more accessible and effective.
Telehealth Options
Many crisis evaluations can now be conducted via video calls, which can be especially helpful if transportation is difficult or if you feel safer at home. The 988 crisis line also offers text-based support for people who prefer written communication. Various mobile apps can help you maintain crisis plans and access resources quickly when you need them.
Electronic Health Records
Modern electronic health systems allow for better coordinated care between different providers, shared access to your medical and psychiatric history, and improved tracking of outcomes to ensure you’re getting the most effective care possible.
Quality and Safety in Emergency Psychiatric Services
Tennessee’s emergency psychiatric services operate under strict quality and safety standards to ensure you receive the best possible care.
Accreditation and Oversight
Services are regulated by state boards, accredited by organizations like The Joint Commission, and follow guidelines established by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). These standards ensure consistent, high-quality care across all facilities and services.
Evidence-Based Practices
Modern crisis services use approaches proven effective through research, including trauma-informed care that recognizes how past traumatic experiences affect current crisis situations, de-escalation techniques that help reduce agitation and promote safety, rapid treatment protocols that get you stabilized quickly, and follow-up services designed to prevent future crises.
Understanding Costs and Insurance Coverage
Navigating the financial aspects of crisis care shouldn’t add stress to an already difficult situation.
Insurance Coverage
Most insurance plans, including Medicaid, cover psychiatric evaluations, crisis stabilization services, short-term hospitalization when necessary, and outpatient follow-up care. If you have insurance, bring your card with you to any crisis service.
Includes:
- Psychiatric evaluations
- Crisis stabilization
- Short-term hospitalization
- Outpatient follow-up
Options for the Uninsured
If you don’t have insurance, you still have options. Emergency Medicaid may cover crisis services, many hospitals and clinics have charity care programs, Federally Qualified Health Centers provide care on sliding-scale fees, and community mental health centers often have funding to provide free or low-cost services.
- Emergency Medicaid
- Charity programs
- Federally Qualified Health Centers
- Community mental health centers
Taking Your Next Step
The most important thing to remember is that mental health emergencies are medical emergencies, and seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Mental health emergencies are medical emergencies.
- Call/Text 988, press 0 in TN
- Call Mental Health Cooperative: (615) 726-0125
- Walk in to a local MHC center
Remember: you are not alone in this. You are valued, your life matters, and help is available right now.
Your Questions Answered
Is emergency psychiatric care really free?
Yes, many services are completely free, especially crisis hotlines, mobile crisis services, and Crisis Stabilization Units in Tennessee. Other services often offer sliding-scale fees based on your ability to pay, and there are programs to help cover costs for those who need them.
Can I be forced to stay somewhere against my will?
In most cases, treatment is completely voluntary. You can only be held involuntarily if you’re determined to be a danger to yourself or others, or if you’re unable to care for yourself due to your mental health condition. Even then, there are legal protections and review processes in place.
How long does a crisis evaluation typically take?
Most evaluations take about 3-4 hours, though sometimes they can be completed more quickly depending on your situation and needs. The staff will work as efficiently as possible while making sure they have all the information needed to help you safely.
What should I bring with me?
Bring a photo ID, your insurance card if you have one, a list of current medications including dosages, contact information for your current healthcare providers, and any recent medical or psychiatric records you have available. Don’t bring weapons, large amounts of cash, illegal drugs, or alcohol.
Can my family stay with me during the evaluation?
Family members typically can’t stay with you during the actual evaluation process, but they can provide important information to the clinical team with your permission. Their input often helps create a more complete picture of your situation.
What happens after the evaluation is complete?
Several things might happen depending on your needs. You might be discharged home with a detailed safety plan and scheduled follow-up appointments. You might be admitted to a Crisis Stabilization Unit for short-term intensive support. In some cases, transfer to an inpatient psychiatric facility might be recommended. You might also be connected directly with outpatient mental health services.
Do emergency psychiatric services treat substance use problems too?
Yes, many emergency psychiatric services can address both mental health and substance use issues, especially when they occur together. They can provide detoxification services when needed and connect you with specialized addiction treatment programs.
Is everything I say confidential?
Yes, your privacy is protected by HIPAA laws just like any other medical care. Information is only shared with your consent or in emergency situations when someone’s safety is at immediate risk. The clinical team will explain their confidentiality policies when you arrive.
