January 23, 2025

For those interested, please be advised to the recent release of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) 2025 National Guidelines for Behavioral Health Coordinated System of Crisis Care, which provides a framework to improve responses in crisis situations nationwide.

Two documents are available within the guidance:

1. 2025 National Guidelines for Crisis Care
2. 2025 Model Definitions for Behavioral Health Crisis Services

In relation to the guidance, please note that a draft Mobile Crisis Team Implementation Toolkit has been made available for public comment. The toolkit covers best practices for stabilization and rapid crisis interventions. The public comment period will be open through Friday, March 21, 2025. Please submit public comments on the toolkit here.

This National Guidance is built on three foundational elements that are essential within an integrated crisis care system with the goal that everyone should have access to:

• Someone to Contact: Services like the 988 Lifeline and other behavioral health hotlines provide immediate, accessible support.
• Someone to Respond: Services like Mobile Crisis Teams that deliver rapid, on-site interventions to de-escalate crises and connect individuals to care as well as Crisis Outreach Teams that provide complementary crisis prevention and postvention; and
• A Safe Place for Help: A wide array of stabilization services for behavioral health crisis and emergencies where people can receive immediate treatment and support as well as services that can aid in crisis prevention and postvention.