The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), an agency within the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), released updated National Behavioral Health Crisis Care Guidance (National Guidance), comprised of three documents: 2025 National Guidelines for a Behavioral Health Coordinated System of Crisis Care; Model Definitions for Behavioral Health Emergency, Crisis, and Crisis-Related Services; and a draft Mobile Crisis Team Services: An Implementation Toolkit, which was released on January 15 for public comment. The updated National Guidance now reflects the national transition to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in 2022 and other progress and emerging needs related to behavioral health crisis care, and provides a framework for transforming behavioral health crisis care systems in communities throughout the United States, at a time when the US continues to face record high rates of suicide and overdose.
