Washtenaw County residents are encouraged to call the CARES hotline directly at 734-544-3050 with any mental health concern. 988 is a great new national resource that (in most cases) will route local callers to the CARES hotline.
People experiencing a mental health crisis now have a new, direct number they can call to access services and support. The 988 National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number launched in July 2022 and is designed to provide appropriate mental health services and crisis response as an alternative to calling 911. Backed by the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 988 is available 24/7, nationwide for mental health support. The hotline offers texting and chat functions in English, as well as talk services in English and Spanish.
When a person calls 988, they will hear an automated message and follow guided options while their call is routed to a state or local crisis center. Because not all local jurisdictions are equipped to handle mental health crisis calls 24/7, Michigan is routing its calls to the 24/7 Michigan Crisis and Access Line (MiCAL). MiCAL provides crisis and informational services for those who call and then connects callers to their local system of care.
Washtenaw County residents will, in most cases, be connected with the Washtenaw County Community Mental Health (WCCMH) CARES hotline after calling 988. The CARES hotline is staffed around-the-clock with trained mental health professionals who provide 24/7 access to mental health and substance use services such as screenings, referrals to community providers, and guidance on how to get connected to resources.
For quicker access to mental health services, Washtenaw County residents are encouraged to call the CARES hotline directly at 734-544-3050 with any mental health concern.
Additional Resources
Additional local and national mental health support and suicide prevention hotlines are available for those who seek alternative resources
- Crisis Text Line: Text Hello to 741741
- UM Health System Psychiatric Emergency Services hotline: 734-936-5900
- Ozone House 24-hour hotline: 734-662-2222
- Regional Alliance for Healthy Schools 24-hour hotline: 734-936-5900
- Veteran's Crisis Line: Veterans and their loved ones can call 800-273-8255 and Press 1 for help
- Chelsea Community Hospital, Emergency Room: 734-475-3960
- Trinity Health Psychiatric Access: 734-712-2762
Download the #wishyouknew campaign’s local resource guide for a more detailed list of mental health resources in Washtenaw County.
Visit washtenaw.org/wishyouknew to learn more about the #wishyouknew mental health campaign.
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