It’s not always clear how to find support for a mental health crisis in Virginia. You might not know where to go or who to call. And while 911 has long been the default, it isn’t always the best fit. Responses led by police can feel intimidating and sometimes escalate situations.
To address this, Virginia’s mental health crisis response services provide alternatives to 911. Through programs like the 988 crisis line, mobile crisis teams, and community-based programs, the state is reshaping how mental health emergency response works.
Our aim with this article is to help you better understand how Virginia is expanding crisis response services. It explores why traditional 911 responses haven’t always met mental health needs and why there’s a growing demand for mental health-focused care before considering what crisis response means beyond the typical 911 call.
Why Traditional 911 Responses Haven’t Always Met Mental Health Needs
Emergency response systems, like 911, are made to handle immediate threats like fires, medical emergencies, or criminal activity. But a significant number of calls to 911 involve mental and behavioral health concerns.
In fact, researchers estimated that between 5% and 15% of all 911 calls are related to mental health crises.1 While some city-level studies show that more than one in five emergency calls involve behavioral health distress, homelessness, or substance-related concerns.2 These are situations that often require de-escalation rather than enforcement.
By having 911 be the default entry point for mental health emergencies, law enforcement has taken on the role of mental health first responders in Virginia. Yet, most police officers have no clinical training and have few alternatives when they’re on the scene. This can cause an escalation in fear and sometimes an increase in police brutality when they don’t know how to respond. Research has shown that interventions designed by psychologists have led to a decrease in excessive use of force.3
Together, these challenges have prompted Virginia to rethink its crisis response system and invest in approaches that better support mental health needs.
Mission Connection offers flexible outpatient care for adults needing more than weekly therapy. Our in-person and telehealth programs include individual, group, and experiential therapy, along with psychiatric care and medication management.
We treat anxiety, depression, trauma, and bipolar disorder using evidence-based approaches like CBT, DBT, mindfulness, and trauma-focused therapies. Designed to fit into daily life, our services provide consistent support without requiring residential care.
Why There’s Growing Demand for Mental Health–Focused Crisis Care in Virginia
Virginia’s mental health system has been under increasing strain in recent years, with a shortage of providers.4 Emergency departments across the state, from Fairfax County and Arlington to Richmond and Tidewater, have seen growing numbers of people arriving in emotional distress. Plus, research has shown that mental health visits in Virginia’s hospitals rose 10.6% between 2016 and 2021.5 This may be because there were few options available for people in crisis at the time.
What has contributed to this growing strain on emergency services is workforce shortages, long waitlists, and limited evening or weekend services. All these limitations have made it difficult for many Virginia residents to access timely care. As a result, crisis situations are more likely to worsen before you receive help, placing pressure on hospitals, families, and local emergency systems.
Rather than relying on a single entry point, Virginia has begun investing in community-based crisis response services designed to provide faster stabilization and clearer pathways to ongoing care.
What Going “Beyond 911” Crisis Response Really Means
Expanding crisis response beyond 911 does not mean these services are no longer needed. Instead, Virginia is focusing on matching the response to the situation. Essentially, the state is looking at how mental health emergencies are handled and when police involvement may or may not be needed. They want to reduce distress and connect people to appropriate resources. Here’s what’s involved to make these responses more clinically-focused:
Mental Health Leadership
Modern mental health emergency response in Virginia increasingly relies on clinical leadership. This means having behavioral health professionals guide crisis assessment and intervention. Having a mental health professional as the point of contact ensures that decisions are informed by mental health expertise and centered on emotional safety and stabilization.
De-escalation
A core goal of expanded crisis response is de-escalation. Meaning that rather than approaching mental health emergencies through control or enforcement, Virginia’s crisis intervention programs highlight calm communication, patience, and a supportive presence to help people feel safe.
Trauma-Informed Care
Many people experiencing a crisis have a history of trauma. For this reason, non-police mental health crisis response in Virginia prioritizes trauma-informed care approaches. These approaches respect autonomy, reduce the likelihood of being retraumatized, and recognize how past experiences can shape reactions in moments of distress.
Continuity of Support
Alternatives to 911 for mental health in Virginia also recognize that crisis care does not end once the immediate situation is over. Newer approaches focus on continued support by connecting people to follow-up services, like outpatient therapy, crisis stabilization programs, or community-based resources. The hope is to reduce the risk of future emergencies.
Key Crisis Response Services Expanding Across Virginia
As Virginia moves toward a more comprehensive approach to mental health emergencies, several crisis response services have expanded statewide to provide alternatives that are more responsive, accessible, and clinically appropriate. These services work together and offer multiple entry points depending on a person’s needs, location, and level of urgency. In the following sections, we give an overview of some of these options.
988 Crisis Response Services
The launch of Virginia’s 988 crisis response services has created a dedicated, easy-to-remember option if you are experiencing emotional distress, suicidal thoughts, or mental health crises. Available by call, text, or chat, 988 connects you with trained counselors who can provide immediate support, assess risk, and coordinate next steps. This serves as a critical alternative to calling 911, particularly when law enforcement involvement is not needed.
Mobile Crisis Response Teams
Mobile crisis response in Virginia allows behavioral health professionals to meet you where you are, whether that’s at home, school, or in the community. These teams often include licensed clinicians and peer support specialists who can assess safety and help determine whether you need additional support. They play an essential role in community-based crisis response in Virginia, especially in areas where emergency rooms are overburdened or access is limited.
Co-Responder Teams
In some regions, behavioral health crisis teams operate alongside law enforcement through co-responder crisis programs in Virginia. In these models, mental health professionals accompany or support first responders during crisis calls. By having a mental health professional there, this ensures that situations involving emotional distress are addressed with clinical insight and care when possible.
Crisis Sites
Virginia offers several different crisis sites, including crisis receiving centers, crisis stabilization units, and crisis therapeutic homes. These sites are typically open 24 hours and provide on-site assessment, intervention, and coordination to appropriate services. They are not meant for long-term support, but can help people in crisis access continued treatment. Crisis sites are becoming available across the state, with the construction of a 10-bed short-term crisis stabilization unit in Loudon County and Connections Health Solutions in Prince William County.
REACH Program
The REACH program, which stands for “regional education assessment crisis services habilitation”, is one of the short-term crisis stabilization services in Virginia. This program is meant to assist people with developmental disabilities who are experiencing crisis situations. REACH provides both home support and services provided in the community. They offer services throughout all five regions of Virginia, including Arlington, Fairfax-Falls Church, Alexandria, and Prince William.
How Mission Connection Supports Mental Health Access in Virginia
As a focused mental health outpatient program, Mission Connection helps to narrow the gap between crisis support and long-term wellness by providing personalized, evidence-based mental health services across Virginia.
With our in-person and telehealth options, we offer outpatient therapy designed to support you after a crisis and help prevent future emergencies. By supporting you beyond the point of crisis, our aim is to strengthen the broader system of Virginia’s emergency mental health services and help you stay connected to care when you need it most.
If you’re trying to manage a mental health crisis or need support after one, Mission Connection is here to help. Contact us to learn more about our Virginia services or to take the next steps toward ongoing support and stability.
FAQs About Mental Health Crisis Response Services in Virginia
If you still have some questions about how Virginia is expanding crisis response services beyond traditional 911 calls, the following answers to commonly asked questions may help give extra clarity.
What Is the Mental Health Crisis Line in Virginia?
The mental health crisis line in Virginia is 988. You can call or text 988 at any time if you’re experiencing mental health concerns. This line connects you with trained mental health professionals who can provide you with immediate support, assess risk, and help you coordinate your next steps.
What Qualifies as a Mental Health Emergency?
A mental health emergency is a situation where you or someone you know is at immediate risk of harming themselves or others. It also covers periods when someone is unable to care for basic needs due to severe mental distress. This may include thoughts of suicide with a plan, plans to harm someone else, psychosis, or extreme emotional distress that greatly impairs your judgment. In these situations, immediate support is critical. Depending on the level of risk, you may consider calling Virginia’s 988 crisis response services or seeking emergency medical care.
Can I Go to the ER for Mental Health?
Yes, you can go to the emergency room for mental health reasons. They can assess and support people during a mental health emergency, especially if there is an immediate risk of harm. However, ERs are often crowded and may not provide specialized mental health care beyond stabilization. This is why alternatives to 911 for mental health in Virginia, such as mobile crisis response teams or crisis stabilization services, are increasingly used when appropriate.
Are There Any Mental Health Crisis Centers in Arlington, VA?
Yes, Arlington has several mental health crisis centers. If you’re experiencing a mental health emergency, you can always call 988 or 703-228-5160 for Arlington’s Crisis Intervention Center. If you’re really struggling to find mental health support, contact Mission Connection. We’ll assist you in getting the care and support you deserve. We have a location in Arlington, VA, as well as provide remote support all across the state and country, so you don’t have to go too far from home.
How Can Mission Connection Help With Virginia’s Mental Health Response?
We support statewide crisis response in Virginia by providing accessible outpatient mental health care. By offering flexibly scheduled, telehealth, or in-person evidence-based treatment, Mission Connection helps ensure you get the care you need, which is an essential part of effective mental health response in Virginia.
References
- Ding, M. L., Gerberi, D. J., & McCoy, R. G. (2023). Engaging emergency medical services to improve postacute management of behavioural health emergency calls: a protocol of a scoping literature review. BMJ Open, 13(3), e067272. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2022-067272
- Curry, J., Sloan, L., Rush, W. K., & Gulrajani, C. (2023). The changing landscape of mental health crisis response in the United States. Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law. https://doi.org/10.29158/JAAPL.220111-22
- Abrams, Z. (2020, October 1). What works to reduce police brutality. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2020/10/cover-police-brutality
- Virginia Health Care Foundation. (2025, August 6). Capacity of Virginia’s licensed Behavioral health workforce. https://www.vhcf.org/data/capacity-of-virginias-licensed-behavioral-health-workforce/
- Gilbert, J. L., Nelson, B. B., Britz, J., Webel, B., French, E., Lee, J. H., Wolf, E. R., Brooks, E. M., Sabo, R. T., Wright, A. S., Reynolds, R., Wendling, K., Strayer, S. M., Chung, S. L., & Krist, A. H. (2025). Trends in Emergency Department, Primary Care, and Behavioral Health Use for Pediatric Mental Health Conditions in Virginia before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. BMC Primary Care, 26 (54). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-025-02733-0https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-025-02733-0
