For a life-threatening emergency, always dial 911.
An emergency is considered to be any serious and sudden medical, emotional, or behavioral health situation that, if not given immediate professional attention, could lead to your child being severely harmed or possibly harming someone else.
If you have an emergency situation involving your child that is life-threatening, seek help immediately by dialing 911.
Urgent situations
If your situation is not immediately life-threatening, contact:
PerformCare at 1-877-652-7624 and follow the menu prompts provided for an urgent situation. They will ask you a series of questions to determine how they can help.If they find that your child should be evaluated for hospitalization, they will refer you to a local screening center. The NJ Department of Human Services offers a list of crisis/screening centers by county.
Mobile response stabilization services (MRSS)
PerformCare may authorize mobile response stabilization services (MRSS) to come your home within one hour of notification to provide face-to-face crisis services. The goal is to stabilize behavior and keep your child at home. Mobile response is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and can offer up to eight weeks of stabilization services.
Mental Health Telephone Support Available During COVID-19 Outbreak
New Jerseyans feeling the emotional and mental toll of COVID-19 can get support from a special helpline.
NJ Mental Health Cares, the state’s behavioral health information and referral service, will now also offer help to people dealing with anxiety and worry related to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. New Jerseyans can call 1-866-202-HELP (4357) for free, confidential support. NJ Mental Health Cares will be answered from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week by live trained specialists.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.
The Lifeline provides 24/7 free and confidential support for people during emergencies. The Lifeline also helps specific groups, such as youth, loss survivors, veterans, LGBTQ+, and more, cope with suicidal thoughts.
NJ Hopeline 1-855-654-6735.
The NJ Hopeline has specialists available 24/7 who offer counseling and support over the phone.
2nd Floor Youth Helpline: 1-888-222-2228 (call or text).
2NDFLOOR is a confidential helpline for New Jersey’s youth that helps find solutions to problems they face at home, at school, or at play.
The New Jersey Children's System of Care defines an emergency as any serious medical, emotional or behavioral health condition with a sudden onset that, if not dealt with right away, is severe enough that a prudent layperson who possesses an average knowledge of medicine and health could reasonably expect the absence of immediate attention to result in jeopardy to the life or health of the child, youth or young adult, or harm to another person by the child, youth or young adult.
