Philadelphia Community Services for Children and Adolescents

X. Crisis Intervention Services

A crisis may be caused by isolated events, but it is more likely to be an accumulation of normal life events that are disruptive, produce stress, and may even bring on illness. Parental separation or divorce, death of a family member, loss of a job or a parent, lack of money, and drug or alcohol problems are all examples of situations that can precipitate a crisis for both children and adults in a family.

When you feel overwhelmed and incapable of taking action to solve a crisis involving your child, you need help to resolve the immediate problem and to plan for a stable future. Crisis intervention services can help stabilize a situation. Besides hospitals, crisis intervention services can be obtained from "hotlines," community MH/MR centers, privately practicing therapists, family service agencies, pastoral counseling services, and other private community agencies.

A. Community Mental Health Centers

Community mental health/mental retardation (MH/MR) centers offer a range of mental health services, including crisis intervention, though not all provide 24-hour services. Persons seeking service should call the community MH/MR center closest to home. View the map of community MH/MR center catchment areas to find the center serving you.

Services are available to all community residents and fees are arranged according to ability to pay. No individual is denied service due to inability to pay.

For emergency numbers, see Psychiatric Emergencies.

B. Hotlines

Telephone hotlines offer supportive listening, information, and immediate referral. There are no fees or forms, and you do not have to leave the house.

But hotlines are not meant to replace other kinds of help. They are a first step, to relieve the panic of the moment. If necessary, the caller can then continue getting help through face-to-face counseling or other long-term programs.

Hotlines are anonymous. They are generally staffed either by volunteers trained in crisis intervention or by a combination of trained volunteers and mental health professionals. Hotline personnel are especially knowledgeable about community services and how to obtain them.

1. General Mental Health

2. Drug and Alcohol Abuse Hotlines

3. Runaways/Emergency Shelter Hotlines

4. HIV/AIDS/Sexual Health Hotlines

5. Support For Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgendered (LGBT) Community

6. Child Abuse Hotlines

7. Spanish-Speaking Services Hotlines

8. Women Hotlines

9. Pregnant Teenagers

10. Grandparent Support Hotlines

C. Therapists In Private Practice

Many therapists in private practice will see children and/or adolescents in an emergency.

For psychologists (reduced fee):
Philadelphia Society of Clinical Psychologists
215-885-2562

For clinical social workers:
Pennsylvania Society For Clinical Social Work
215-942-0775

For information and referral:
Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania
215-751-1800
www.mhasp.org

D. Family Service Agencies

Some family service agencies offer crisis intervention services only during normal working hours. Call first to check on the availability of services and the hours. Fees are usually charged on a sliding scale.

E. Pastoral Counseling Services

Some pastoral counseling services offer crisis intervention services, but only during normal working hours. Call first to check on the availability of services and the hours. Fees are charged on a sliding scale. There are several offices throughout the city.

F. Other Crisis Intervention Services

Other private and community agencies offer crisis intervention services. The information and referral numbers listed above will give you additional resources, or check the Blue Pages of the telephone book.