San Francisco Mental Health Crisis Resources
Written by Erik Lee, PMHNP-BC | Last reviewed: September 23, 2026 Finding immediate support during a mental health emergency should not require searching through confusing government websites. This directory provides direct contact information and official web links for national and California support lines, San Francisco's crisis lines, mobile crisis teams, walk-in crisis care, and psychiatric emergency services.
The basics of San Francisco crisis care options
National hotlines offer immediate phone or text support. Dialing or texting 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline connects you to confidential care 24 hours a day. In San Francisco, local 988 calls are answered by San Francisco Suicide Prevention. The city's mobile crisis team comes to you. Comprehensive Crisis Services can send clinicians to your location 24/7 for adults, children, and families. Walk-in urgent care and stabilization units provide same-day care. These sites offer voluntary short-term stabilization and clinical assessment for adults without an appointment. Psychiatric emergency services handle acute danger. Zuckerberg San Francisco General runs the city's 24/7 psychiatric emergency department for situations involving immediate danger.
San Francisco crisis lines and walk-in directory
National and statewide crisis lines
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988. Free, confidential support available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Veterans can press 1 to reach the Veterans Crisis Line. Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor by text message. Text HOLA for support in Spanish. California Peer-Run Warm Line: Call or text 855-600-WARM (9276). Free peer support for anyone in California who needs someone to talk to when it is not an emergency. Open weekdays; check the website for current hours. Teen Line: Call 800-852-8336 (6 to 10 p.m.) or text TEEN to 839863 (6 to 9 p.m.) for support from trained teen volunteers. Calls outside those hours reach adult counselors 24/7.
San Francisco crisis lines and mobile crisis teams
San Francisco Suicide Prevention: Call 415-781-0500, 24/7. Text 415-200-2920 (text CRISIS, YOUTH, or HIV) for free, confidential text support. Comprehensive Crisis Services: Call 628-217-7000, 24/7. The city's mobile crisis team serves adults, children, youth, and families, with support in Cantonese, Mandarin, Spanish, and Tagalog. Behavioral Health Access Line: Call 888-246-3333, 24/7 (TTY 711), for screening and referral to ongoing mental health or substance use care. This line is for connecting to care, not emergencies.
Adult walk-in crisis care
Dore Urgent Care Clinic: Located at 52 Dore St, San Francisco, CA 94103. Call 415-553-3100. Open 24/7 for voluntary psychiatric urgent care for adults. Crestwood Geary Stabilization Unit: Located at 822 Geary St, San Francisco, CA 94109. Call 628-216-0303. Open 24/7 for adults in acute crisis. No appointment needed; stays are up to 23 hours. Westside Crisis Clinic: Located at 245 11th St, San Francisco, CA 94103. Call 415-355-0311. Drop-in care for adults 18 and older, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed 12 to 12:30 p.m.). Behavioral Health Access Center: Located at 1380 Howard St, 1st Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103. Walk in Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., for screening and connection to care.
Youth crisis care
Edgewood Crisis Stabilization Unit: Located at 2681 28th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94116. Call 415-682-3278. Open 24/7 for young people ages 5 to 17. Parents can call directly without a referral. Comprehensive Crisis Services (628-217-7000) also responds to children and youth, and San Francisco Suicide Prevention accepts texts with the word YOUTH at 415-200-2920.
Psychiatric emergency services
Psychiatric Emergency Services, Zuckerberg San Francisco General: Located at 1001 Potrero Ave, Building 25, 1st Floor, San Francisco, CA 94110. Call 628-206-8000. Open 24/7 for psychiatric emergencies.
How to choose between walk-in care and emergency rooms
Choose a walk-in clinic or stabilization unit for urgent emotional distress. These sites work best when you feel overwhelmed, need medication stabilization, or need a safe space to de-escalate without medical emergency intervention. Choose an emergency room for physical injury or acute danger. Go to Psychiatric Emergency Services at Zuckerberg San Francisco General or the nearest hospital emergency room, or call 911, if there is immediate risk of self-harm, physical overdose, or medical complications.
Common pitfalls when seeking immediate help
Calling general law enforcement during a mental health crisis. Action: Call Comprehensive Crisis Services at 628-217-7000 for a mobile crisis response. If you do call 911, ask whether the Street Crisis Response Team or a Crisis Intervention Team trained officer is available. Waiting until office hours open on Monday morning. Action: Save 415-781-0500 and 628-217-7000 in your mobile phone contacts today so you can call 24/7. Assuming crisis care requires insurance. Action: Go directly. Zuckerberg San Francisco General serves everyone regardless of ability to pay, and the city's crisis programs are open to San Franciscans in crisis. Call ahead if cost is a concern.
Practical tips to prepare crisis information
Program San Francisco's crisis lines into your mobile phone. Label the contacts clearly, such as "SF Crisis Line" and "SF Mobile Crisis," for fast dialing. Keep a written list of current medications in your wallet. Having dosages and prescriber contacts ready speeds up intake at walk-in sites. Identify two trusted contacts who know your safety plan. Share the address of your nearest walk-in site with family or close friends in advance. Store the nearest walk-in site in your navigation app. Pinning Dore Urgent Care or the Geary Stabilization Unit ahead of time saves time during stressful moments.
The bottom line
Accessing mental health crisis support in San Francisco is straightforward when you know which resource matches your immediate needs. Saving the city's crisis numbers and knowing your nearest walk-in site helps you get prompt care without delay. Crisis resources for other areas: Oregon | San Diegoces-san-diego)