The Emergency Room and Crisis Options: What Parents Should Know

When your teen is in a mental health crisis, the right first call depends on one question, which is whether anyone is in immediate physical danger right now. If they are, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. If you're frightened and need help fast but no one is in danger this minute, call, text, or chat 988, and ask whether your area has a mobile crisis team or a crisis center that can see your teen. It helps to know these options before a hard night arrives, since nobody thinks clearly at 2 a.m.

What counts as a mental health crisis for a teen?

A mental health crisis is any moment when your teen's safety, or someone else's, is at risk, or when their distress is so intense that your family can't keep things safe and calm on its own. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) describes a psychiatric emergency as "a dangerous or life-threatening situation in which a child needs immediate attention" (AACAP, 2018). That can look like a teen who is violent or out of control, a teen who seems to have lost touch with reality, or a teen who has taken pills or something else dangerous.

A crisis can also be quieter, like a teen who hasn't slept in days or says things that frighten you, and you don't need to be sure it's an emergency before you ask for help. If you're worried about your teen's safety, that worry is reason enough to call 988, and our crisis page keeps the numbers in one place.

How does 988 work, and can parents call it?

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a free, confidential line open 24 hours a day, and you can reach it by calling 988, texting 988, or chatting at chat.988lifeline.org (988 Lifeline). Spanish speakers can call 988 and press 2, or text AYUDA to 988. The Lifeline says people don't have to be suicidal to reach out, so a parent scared about their teen's behavior or mood can use it too.

Parents can contact 988 on their teen's behalf. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which oversees the Lifeline, 988 counselors provide support and resources for family, friends, and caregivers who call about someone else, and the counselor will "listen, support, assess your situation, share resources, and make community connections" (SAMHSA, 2025).

Many parents hesitate because they fear 988 will send the police. SAMHSA says only "a small percentage" of 988 contacts lead to a 911 dispatch, which happens when someone is in physical danger (SAMHSA, 2025).

What are mobile crisis teams and crisis centers?

Mobile crisis teams and crisis stabilization centers are the parts of the crisis system that sit between a phone call and the emergency room. SAMHSA's 2025 national guidelines describe crisis care in three parts: someone to contact (988 and other hotlines), someone to respond (mobile crisis teams that come to you), and a safe place for help (stabilization services where a person can get immediate treatment and support) (SAMHSA, 2026).

A mobile crisis team of mental health professionals and peer support workers comes to your home or your teen's school to calm things down and connect your teen to care, while a crisis stabilization or urgent care center is a walk-in setting focused on mental health, often quieter than a busy ER. In 2023 the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American College of Emergency Physicians, and the Emergency Nurses Association jointly called for more mobile crisis teams that can respond to "schools, physicians' offices, and homes" (AAP, 2023), so these services are still growing and won't exist in every county. Ask 988 or your teen's pediatrician what's available near you before you need it.

When should you go to the ER, and when should you call 911?

Call 911 when someone is in immediate physical danger or you can't safely get your teen to the hospital yourself, and go to the ER when your teen needs urgent evaluation and you can get them there safely. AACAP is direct about this: if your child has overdosed on medication or drugs or swallowed something dangerous, call 911 or your local emergency number right away, and if you're not sure you can transport your child safely, call an ambulance (AACAP, 2018).

The table below compares the main options so you can match the response to the moment.

When you can't tell which row you're in, start with 988 or 911 rather than waiting, since both can redirect you if you've picked the wrong door.

What happens at the ER for a mental health emergency?

A mental health visit to the ER usually follows the same basic path, though the details vary by hospital and by state. Your teen will be checked in and seen by a triage nurse, then examined by a doctor to rule out medical problems, and then evaluated by a mental health professional, sometimes in person and sometimes by video. Staff may ask your teen to change into a gown and hold onto some belongings for safety, which is standard practice.

The wait is often the hardest part. The AAP notes that about half a million children with mental and behavioral health conditions are evaluated in emergency departments for psychiatric emergencies each year, and that limited staff and space can mean long waits and crowded conditions (AAP, 2023).

After the evaluation, the team will usually recommend one of two paths. Your teen may be admitted to an adolescent psychiatric unit, sometimes at a different hospital, or discharged home with a plan that includes follow-up appointments and steps to keep home safe. In some situations, a clinician can place an adolescent on a short involuntary hold for further evaluation, and the rules and time limits for that vary by state. Ask questions at every step, and don't leave without a clear discharge plan and a follow-up appointment. Our guide to levels of care explains what the options after an ER visit actually involve, and how insurance works for teen treatment covers the coverage questions that usually come next.

What should you bring to the ER?

Bring whatever helps the team understand your teen quickly, but only if gathering it won't slow you down. AACAP suggests bringing your teen's current medications, any medication bottles if they may have taken an overdose, and contact information for their pediatrician and mental health providers (AACAP, 2018). A few other things make a long wait easier:

• Your insurance card and your own photo ID.
• A short written timeline of what happened today and over the last few weeks.
• Any diagnoses, past hospital stays, or allergies your teen has.
• Your phone charger and a change of clothes for your teen.

Putting these in a note on your phone on a calmer day means you won't be hunting for them mid-crisis.

When should you get help, and from whom?

The right kind of help depends on how urgent things are, and it's worth knowing all three levels in advance. This guide can help you think through your options, but only a licensed professional can evaluate your teen and decide what level of care they need.

Right now, if anyone is in danger: call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. If you're worried about your teen's safety, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), or call 911 if your teen is in immediate danger.

Today, if things feel out of control but no one is in immediate danger: call or text 988, ask about a mobile crisis team, or call your teen's pediatrician, many of whom have an after-hours line that can help you decide where to go.

This week, after the crisis has passed: schedule a follow-up with your teen's pediatrician or therapist, even if things feel calmer. Our guide on how to know what level of care your teen needs can help you think about what comes next, and the Getting Help hub collects every step in one place.

Many parents feel shaken for days after a crisis, and our article on parenting a struggling teen is written for that part.

This article shares practical guidance for parents and is not medical advice. We're not clinicians or doctors. If your teen is struggling, contact a licensed mental health professional or your teen's doctor, and if you have a serious concern about their safety, call 911 or call or text 988. Editorial standards