How to call for mental health help in Chicago

Driving the news: This month, Chicago announced a planned citywide expansion of its Crisis Assistance Response and Engagement (CARE) program, which sends nonpolice mental health staffers to people in need.

• The program is currently staffed with four EMTs and four clinicians, using four vans. This summer, it will add 12 staffers and four vans, bringing the total to 20 staffers and eight vans.
• However, this service applies only to those who pose no threat and are experiencing their crisis from 10am to 4pm Monday through Friday.

Here's how to use the four main public mental health services:

• When someone is experiencing a mental health crisis and appears to present a physical threat to themselves or those around them, call 911.
• When someone is experiencing a mental health crisis and does not appear to pose a threat to themselves or others, call 911 and ask for CARE. The operator will assess the need.
• When you are experiencing a mental health crisis and need to speak to someone on the phone, call 988.
• When you are feeling depressed or need mental health services but can wait for up to three days, email [email protected].

Zoom in: While CARE has limited hours, its services are wide and expanding.

• The teams are now able to help people in "socio-emotional distress situations — including moments when individuals are overwhelmed by emotional, social, or life challenges," the city says.
• Officials say that CARE staffers can also "conduct on-site mental health assessments, provide crisis de-escalation and brief counseling, and connect residents to ongoing mental health care and social services."
• "When appropriate, CARE teams may also transport individuals to non-hospital behavioral health destinations, including crisis stabilization centers, living rooms, behavioral health emergency rooms, and other mental health service providers."

What's next: CARE officials tell Axios they hope to expand both staffing and hours as resources become available.