Sometimes talking on the phone or texting isn't enough.

When you call or text 988, our trained crisis workers can help you figure out if you need someone to come help keep you safe, and help you make a plan for what to do next. They may recommend one of our mobile crisis outreach teams come meet with you if you need it.

Get free & confidential help

Call or text 988

Options that might work for you:

Mobile Crisis Outreach Team

Mobile crisis outreach teams (also called MCOTs) provide free face-to-face help for anyone having an emotional or behavioral health challenge. Trained crisis workers will meet you wherever you are—at home, work, school, or anywhere in your community. They can help assess the situation, calm you down, and figure out what will keep you and others safe.

Mobile crisis outreach teams are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. They come in an unmarked vehicle to protect your privacy. Call 988 to get help from a mobile crisis outreach team.
These services are free to everyone in Utah, no matter where you live. You don't need proof of citizenship, insurance, or a social security number to get help.

We can send a specially trained mobile crisis outreach team if the situation or concern involves a child. These teams have more experience and training to help kids and parents going through a challenging situation.

mobile outreach workers reaching out to woman on bench.

What does a mobile crisis outreach team do?

A mobile crisis outreach team can help with urgent challenges you or someone else is having. These services are free to everyone in Utah, no matter where you live.

Make sure you and others are safe right now.
Provide a crisis assessment. This tells you what kind of help you or others may need.
Create a safety plan in case of another crisis or challenge.
Connect you to other helpful resources.

Our crisis workers at 988 are experts at providing help and support to people in crisis. That means it is rare that a trained crisis worker needs to call emergency services like 911 for help. Our goal is to make sure you get the right help at the right time

Sometimes people don't ask for help because they worry police or law enforcement will be called, and worry they or someone else will go to jail. We do everything we can to keep you safe and help you work through the situation over the phone, text, or chat. If that isn't enough, we can send a mobile crisis outreach team to help. We only work with law enforcement when there's nothing else we can do to keep you or others safe. It is rare for police or law enforcement to become involved when someone calls 988. This year, only 1.5% of calls to 988 in Utah needed help from law enforcement.

Not usually. Our goal is to help you avoid going to the emergency room, unless you need to. That is one of the benefits of these types of services. Emergency room visits can be expensive, have long wait times, and they see patients with many different needs. That means emergency rooms may need to see patients who have other medical needs, like accidents or serious medical conditions before they see patients with needs related to emotional, mental health, or substance use. Emergency rooms also may not have mental health professionals working all the time.

Helping people with challenges related to emotional, mental health, or substance use is all we do. That means we have the ability to bring the experts and services to you—for free.

Mobile crisis outreach teams or MCOTs are teams of mental and behavioral health professionals, peer support specialists, and certified crisis workers specially trained to help people in a crisis. They can also bring in psychiatrists or other advanced skilled healthcare providers to help if needed.

In Utah, these teams are usually staffed by professionals at a local mental health authority.
These agencies provide mental health, substance use, and behavioral health services in their
communities. There are 13 local mental health authorities in Utah, each provides services to a
specific county or counties. You can find the local mental health and local substance use
authority for your county here.

Find youth stabilization services near you

Youth stabilization services are free but may not be available in every county. Call 988 to find the nearest services for your child.

We know parents make the best decisions for their children if they have the information they need. But sometimes you may not know where to turn for help—and you may need help right now. When you call 988 because you're concerned for your child, we can send a specially trained mobile crisis outreach team to meet wherever you want—at home, school, or the park. These special teams have more experience and training to help kids and parents going through a challenging situation.

It can be hard to know if your child's thoughts and behaviors are normal for their age—or a sign of something more serious. Your family may also need help for several weeks after your child has an emotional or behavioral health challenge. The mobile crisis outreach team can help connect you with youth stabilization services. Youth stabilization services are free, weekly visits from mental health professionals for several weeks. These visits can be at home or virtually. We'll work with you to keep your child and family as safe as possible in your own home.

Youth stabilization services can be helpful if your child:

Threatens to hurt themself or others
Is verbally or physically aggressive
Uses substances
Destroys or steals property
Is withdrawn from friends or peers
Has difficulty in school
Experiences depression or anxiety
Bullies or is bullied
Often runs away
Has severe changes in mood
Is experiencing grief or loss
Self-harms (cutting, suicide attempts)
May have experienced or witnessed trauma

The services are free, but may not be available in every county. These services can be a good option if you can't find a family therapist right away. A trained mental health professional will visit your family 2 or 3 times each week for 6 to 8 weeks. We can also do visits virtually. You don't need proof of citizenship, insurance, or a social security number to get help.

Youth stabilization services can help your family:

Learn how to communicate and interact with each other in a more healthy way.
Create plans to prepare for and prevent future challenges.
Find resources and support.

Sometimes, the local mental health authority or medical professional may bill Medicaid or your health insurance company for these services. However, you will never receive a bill for these services. You will never be asked to pay anything for using youth stabilization services. You don't need to be a current patient or have certain types of insurance to receive these services.

When a mobile crisis outreach team comes to help your child, they will also give you the phone number for your local youth stabilization services to help your family for the next several weeks. However, they don't set up the appointment for you. You will need to call to set up the appointment with youth stabilization services.

You can get these services at your home 2 to 3 times a week, for 6 to 8 weeks. Virtual appointments are also available. You don't need proof of citizenship, insurance, or a social security number to get help.

Yes. There are many providers throughout the state who can continue to help your family. However, there is a cost for these services. The youth stabilization team working with you can help you find the right care for your family. You can also call your health insurance company to find out which providers in your area your insurance covers. Your local mental health and substance use authority can continue to provide services if you have Medicaid, don't have health insurance, or can't afford the cost of another provider.

Most youth stabilization services are provided by trained professionals from your local mental health and substance use authority. However, in some counties these services are provided by local medical professionals. They will come to your home 2 to 3 times a week, for 6 to 8 weeks. Virtual appointments are also available. You don't need proof of citizenship, insurance, or a social security number to get help.

You don't need to be a current patient or have certain types of insurance to receive these
services if they are provided by a local medical professional or health system, like Intermountain Health.

Sometimes talking on the phone or texting isn't enough.

Options that might work for you:

Mobile Crisis Outreach Team

What does a mobile crisis outreach team do?

Find youth stabilization services near you

Youth stabilization facilities are available in the next counties in Utah: