In the event of a mental health crisis:

• Go to the nearest emergency room

OR

• Call 988 to connect with the San Diego Access and Crisis Line (ACL) or click on the embedded web link to reach their Live Chat (Mon-Fri, 4pm-10pm Pacific Time)

OR

• Call 911 and ask for the Psychiatric Emergency Response Team

OR

• Contact the Access and Crisis Line: (888) 724-7240

Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (PERT) Team

Emergency assessments and referrals for individuals with mental illness. PERT pairs licensed mental health clinicians with uniformed law enforcement officers. Appropriate for children, adolescents, and adults.

            Mental health emergency call 9-1-1 and ask for PERT

If non- emergency mental health concern call the SDPD at 619-531-2000         or, outside of San Diego call

858-565-5200

            Administrative Office: Phone: 619-276-8112  Fax: 619-276-8230

Emergency Screening Unit (ESU)

The Emergency Screening Unit (ESU) provides emergency psychiatric evaluations, crisis intervention, crisis stabilization, brief outpatient counseling, case management and emergency medication management to children and adolescents under age 18. (Meant for unfunded or MediCal patients)

            Contact Phone: 619-876-4502

Where to go if your child or adolescent is experiencing a mental health crisis

Rady Children’s Hospital

Behavioral Health Urgent Care: Serves children ages 5-17 with suicidal thoughts, psychotic thinking, physical aggression or risk of harm to others, depression, anxiety, acute stress reaction, and co-occurring problems with substance use/abuse. The Urgent Care is only open certain hours and takes appointments Monday-Friday, 9am – 4pm; with a Walk-in clinic Monday –Friday 4pm-8pm

            Contact Information:

• Location: 4305 University Ave., Ste. 150, San Diego, CA 92105
• Phone: 858-966-5484; Fax: 619-795-1228

Rady Children’s Hospital Emergency Room and the Crisis Stabilization Unit: This is a short-term crisis assessment and treatment program that assists patients during a mental health crisis. The CSU team works to stabilize a crisis of children who are brought to the Sam S. and Rose Stein Emergency Care Center.

            Contact Information:

• Location: Rose Pavilion, 1^st Floor, 3020 Children’s Way, San Diego, CA 92123
• Phone: 858-966-8036; Fax: 858-966-7433

Aurora Hospital: Aurora San Diego provides inpatient care and partial hospitalization for children ages 5-12 whose acute symptoms require a safe and therapeutic environment. 

            Contact Information:

• Location: 11878 Avenue of Industry, San Diego, CA 92128
• Phone: 858-487-3200 (Main Line)
• Phone to call for Assessment: 888-565-4228

Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital: Provides both inpatient and outpatient services, including partial hospitalization, substance abuse outpatient program, After-school cognitive therapy and therapy programming for children and teens.

            Contact Information:

• Location: 7850 Vista Hill Ave. San Diego, CA 92123
• Phone: 858-836-8434