A mental health crisis can strike without warning — and in that moment, knowing exactly where to turn can make all the difference. Twin Cities residents have more mental health crisis resources available today than ever before: a three-digit lifeline you can call or text any time, trained teams who will come directly to you, and walk-in centers that feel nothing like an emergency room. Here’s a clear, current guide to crisis help in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the surrounding metro.
Start Here: Call or Text 988
The first number to know by heart is 988. Anyone in Minnesota experiencing a mental health crisis — or supporting someone who is — can call, text, or chat 988 for free, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You do not have to be suicidal to call; the line is there for any kind of emotional distress.
Use is climbing fast because more people are learning it exists. Minnesota’s 988 Lifeline centers have answered more than 370,000 contacts since the service launched, according to the Minnesota Department of Health — including roughly 83,000 contacts in just the first half of 2026 alone. Statewide contacts rose 48% from 2024 to 2025, driven in large part by anxiety and financial stress.
- Call or text: 988
- Online chat: 988lifeline.org
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 (text AYUDA for Spanish)
What Happens After You Call?
A trained counselor — a real person, not an automated system — will help you talk through what’s happening and build a safety plan. If you need more support than a phone call can provide, the counselor can arrange a “warm transfer” to a local mobile crisis team, who can meet you in person.
Mobile Crisis Teams: Help That Comes to You
Mobile crisis teams are mental health professionals who respond in person — at your home, school, or wherever you are — rather than requiring you to come to them. They can de-escalate a crisis, create a safety plan, and connect you to ongoing care, regardless of your ability to pay or insurance status.
Hennepin County: COPE
Hennepin County’s mobile crisis team, COPE (Community Outreach for Psychiatric Emergencies), is available 24/7, 365 days a year, with bilingual and bicultural staff and interpreters on request.
- COPE (all ages, Hennepin County): 612-596-1223 — available 24/7, no cost
Minneapolis also runs a dedicated unarmed crisis response program. Canopy Roots operates the city’s Behavioral Crisis Response (BCR) team. Since launching in December 2021, BCR has responded to nearly 35,000 calls, and roughly 80% are resolved without needing any other emergency service. How you reach them depends on urgency: if the situation is life-threatening, call 911. For a non-emergency behavioral or mental health crisis, call the city’s non-emergency line at 612-348-2345 and ask for Behavioral Crisis Response — dispatchers will send BCR when it’s the right fit. (City of Minneapolis BCR page)
Ramsey County and the Suburban Metro
Every county in the metro has its own mobile crisis line, and all operate 24/7:
- Ramsey County, adults (18+): 651-266-7900
- Ramsey County, children & youth (under 18): 651-266-7878
- Anoka County: 763-755-3801
- Scott County: 952-818-3702
- Carver County: 952-442-7601
Crisis response is covered by most health insurance, including Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare, and no one is turned away for inability to pay.
Walk-In Crisis Centers: No Appointment Needed
Sometimes it helps to go somewhere in person. These centers are designed as calmer, faster alternatives to a hospital emergency room.
- Hennepin County Behavioral Health Center — 1800 Chicago Ave S, Minneapolis. Open daily 9 a.m.–9 p.m., no appointment needed. Call 612-879-3115. After 5 p.m., use the buzzer at the Columbus Avenue entrance.
- Hennepin Healthcare Acute Psychiatric Services — 701 Park Ave S, Minneapolis. Walk-in lobby open 7 a.m.–11 p.m., with crisis intervention available 24/7.
You Don’t Have to Face This Alone
Whether you reach out by phone, text, chat, or in person, the Twin Cities crisis system is built to meet you where you are — no referral, insurance, or appointment required. If ongoing support is what you need after the crisis passes, Hues Hope’s Mental Health and Substance Use resource pages connect you to ongoing counseling, treatment programs, and support groups across the metro. Save 988 in your phone today — for yourself, or for someone you love who might need it someday.