ST. LOUIS — The recent shooting at a south ºüÀêÊÓƵ high school brought to light struggles of families searching for ways to help a loved one in crisis. As local families work to recover, experts are raising awareness about the mental and behavioral health resources available in the region.
For people who are either struggling themselves or are worried about someone else, taking the first step toward help can seem overwhelming. Above all, experts say, the best thing to do is to make the first phone call — even before a crisis.
“Don’t start off feeling like you have to know the answers. You may call the wrong number the first time, but they can direct you to the right place. The system is more connected than it’s ever been,†said Serena Muhammad, deputy director of the ºüÀêÊÓƵ Mental Health Board.
“I think sometimes people feel like they have to know exactly what’s going to happen when they call the number, and who’s going to answer, and what are they going to say,†she said. “You can’t know all that. Just make the call, and take the step.â€
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There are plenty ways to do that, including the 988 helpline, community mental health providers, and local hospitals’ behavioral health hotlines.
If someone refuses care and is in danger of causing imminent physical harm to themselves or others, there are steps that can be taken.
Hospitals can place someone on an involuntary hold, and law enforcement can begin that process. Adults can file an application on someone else’s behalf for a through the probate division of the local circuit court.
In every case, a hospital evaluates the patient and decides whether to treat the person for an initial period of up to 96 hours. Medical providers can then request extensions, which are subject to a court hearing.
Crisis help and referrals
For people who have primary care doctors, their office is likely the best place to start, experts say. The ºüÀêÊÓƵ region has a range of mental health resources available, including phone and virtual counseling, and inpatient and outpatient care.
“C²¹±ô±ô any one of the numbers,†said Michelle Schafer, regional vice president of behavioral health for SSM Health. “Any number will immediately start to direct you and help you. Just take action.â€
Behavioral Health Response provides 24-hour services over phone, text and chat. Everyone will be helped, and no one will be turned away, said Bart Andrews, the agency’s chief clinical officer.
The agency also has a youth-focused hotline — the Youth Connection Helpline — which anybody can call, including family, friends, teachers or agencies who are worried about a young person. With the caller’s permission, Behavioral Health Response can contact the young person by phone to try and help.
“What people don’t understand about the Behavioral Health Response line is that it is crisis line — but it’s also a referral process,†Muhammad said. “Even if you’re not in immediate crisis, you can still call that number, and they can connect you to behavioral health providers.â€
The agency also responds to calls from the program, a national network recognizable by its yellow, diamond-shaped signs with the words “safe place†in black letters. The signs are posted in local establishments, like fire stations, Walgreens pharmacies and QuikTrip gas stations. If a young person walks in and says they need help, the staff at those locations are trained to call the Youth Connection Helpline, and Behavioral Health Response will send a mobile outreach team there right away.
Behavioral Health Response can make referrals to providers who serve patients who don’t have health insurance or are underinsured.
SSM Health DePaul Hospital also has an specifically for behavioral health services. The walk-in clinic treats children and adults in urgent need of mental health care.
If someone is worried about a family member or someone else they are supporting, the urgent care is a good option, said Schafer, of SSM. They can bring the person in without an appointment. The clinic keeps slots open with its partner providers so that patients don’t have to wait as long to be seen.
Many providers in the area have same-day appointments (though in some cases, they are reserved for people with the most critical needs). And to get into longer-term, ongoing care it can sometimes take two or three months.
Schafer said the DePaul urgent care offers same-day appointments — and they’re not just for people in crisis. Other providers are working to increase capacity.
Providers in the area are trying to create a system where there is “no wrong door for anyone,†no matter who they are or where they are with their mental health, Schafer said.
“If you’re suffering from any kind of issue, from mental health or substance abuse, it is no different than if you were suffering from another organic disease,†Schafer said. “It’s really OK to seek help. We are all here working very hard to make sure everybody can get the services they need.â€
• To speak with a clinician free of charge, call Behavioral Health Response’s 24/7/365 Crisis Line. Call 988 or 314-469-6644.
• If your life or someone else’s is in imminent danger, call 911. It is important to notify the dispatcher that it is a psychiatric emergency and ask for police officers trained in crisis intervention or trained to assist people experiencing a psychiatric emergency.
• Free help from a mental health expert is available through the Youth Connection helpline for people who live in ºüÀêÊÓƵ, ºüÀêÊÓƵ County or St. Charles County. Clinicians can be reached by calling 314-819-8802, through text by texting “bheard†to 31658 or through online chat at . Families and teachers may use the same resources to seek help on behalf of a child who’s struggling. Behavioral Health Response, a publicly funded organization, offers the services.
• Help finding treatment: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration offers hotlines, information about mental health and a treatment services locator: and an early serious mental illness treatment locator: . National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357). Text your zip code to: 435748 (HELP4U)
• The Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 12355 DePaul Drive, Suite 150, ºüÀêÊÓƵ, MO 63044. The phone number is 314-344-7200. Please use parking lot #8 along DePaul Drive for easy access to SSM Health Behavioral Health Urgent Care.
• The National Child Traumatic Stress Network has resources and information at
• The Mercy Behavioral Health contact line is 314-251-0555, or toll free 1-844-444-6565.
• The National Alliance on Mental Illness in ºüÀêÊÓƵ offers education and support groups for families, caregivers and individuals. More information at
• For help during a crisis, text NAMI to 741-741. You’ll connect with a trained crisis counselor to receive free, 24/7 crisis support via text message.
Kelsey Landis of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.