LifeNet - If You or a Family Member has a Mental Health or Substance Abuse Treatment Need

If you or someone you know in the New York City area is suffering with emotional or substance abuse problems, we can help. Our staff of mental health profesionals are available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. You can reach us by calling any one of our three toll-free, confidential hotlines or visit the LifeNet website at http://www.800lifenet.org/cms/.

1-800-LifeNet (1-800-543-3638) (English)
1-877-Ayudese (1-877-298-3373) (Spanish)
1-877-990-8585 (Asian LifeNet)
1-212-982-5284 (TTY)

If you or someone you know is currently in immediate danger of being harmed, we urge you to call 911 now.

What Types of Problems Can LifeNet Help You With?

Many of us have concerns about emotional and substance use problems, whether they affect us directly or someone we care about. These problems may include:

• family difficulties
• drug or alcohol abuse
• depression
• bipolar disorders
• anxiety, phobia or panic disorders
• anger
• insomnia
• eating disorders
• schizophrenia and other psychoses

Serious emotional problems can affect your daily life. They can sometimes escalate into crisis situations that, without proper treatment, can cause serious harm.

What Happens When You Call LifeNet?

One of our experienced Referral Specialists will listen to your problem and work with you to assess your situation. We have several phone lines for persons seeking to speak with a Spanish-speaking Referral Specialist 877-298-3373 or Cantonese- or Mandarin-speaking Referral Specialist 877-990-8585. You will then be given information and a recommended referral in your area, if needed. You can also call on behalf of someone you know. We will need to know the person's age, neighborhood and the type of problem.

Remember, LifeNet is primarily a New York City-area service, so if you need more specific information regarding services outside New York City, LifeNet will refer you to another helpline that knows more about resources in the area you are interested in.

How Does LifeNet Assess People in Crisis Who Are Calling?

Our Referral Specialists are trained to assess the severity of the problems based on the caller's report. If they determine that a certain level of risk is present, our specialist will contact either 911 or a mobile crisis team to provide appropriate intervention. LifeNet will then follow up with the responding agency to check on the status of the person in crisis. However, over 98% of our callers are not in immediate crisis, and simply need information about affordable services that can assist them in working through their problems.

What Kinds of Resources Does LifeNet Have?

We have access to a broad database of public and private community resources. In the New York metropolitan area, there are thousands of referral sources to meet your particular needs, right at our fingertips.

Who Will Know That I Called?

LifeNet is a crisis, information and referral service that keeps all calls in the strictest confidence.

What Will This Service Cost?

Nothing - there is absolutely no charge to you. LifeNet is provided as a free community service by the Mental Health Association of New York City, Inc. and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.