In a mental health crisis? Here’s where to get help in Charlotte, NC and beyond
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Former Miss USA Cheslie Kryst: 1991-2022
Cheslie Kryst, the Charlotte lawyer with deep ties to the Carolinas and later became the 2019 Miss USA, died by suicide in January 2022.
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It’s been a hard stretch for everyone.
Millions of people in the United States are impacted by mental illness every year, and those needs have only increased amid a pandemic and national unrest.
About 21% of adults experienced mental illness in 2020, or 1 in 5 people — but less than half of them received treatment.
And headlines involving suicide can be traumatic and triggering, but there are resources available nationwide and right here in Charlotte that have helped many people and can help you.
Mental health resources
National
▪ National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: If you need help, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline has a 24-hour crisis hotline at 1-800-273-8255. Confidential online chat is also available at SuicidePreventionLifeline.org. The organization is also in the process of launching a three-digit number, 988, which will be available nationwide for calls and texts by July 2022.
▪ Spanish hotline: If you’re undergoing a crisis and need help from a Spanish-speaking suicide hotline, you can call 1-888-628-9454.
▪ Ayuda en español: Si está pasando por una crisis y necesita ayuda, puede llamar a la Red Nacional de Prevención del Suicidio al 1-888-628-9454.
▪ Crisis Text Line: Text “HOME” to 74174 to reach a free, trained crisis counselor.
▪ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: SAMHSA has a free, confidential national helpline for individuals and families facing mental health and/or substance use disorders. For treatment referral and information, call 1-800-662-HELP.
▪ Trans Lifeline: Call 877-565-8860 for a peer support phone service run by transgender people for transgender peers.
▪ The Trevor Project: The Trevor Project provides 24/7 crisis support services to LGBTQ young people. Text “start” to 678-678, call 1-866-488-7386, or chat online to reach a trained counselor.
▪ Veterans Crisis Line: The free, confidential resource is available to anyone, even if they’re not registered with VA or enrolled in VA health care. Responders are specially trained and experienced in helping veterans of all ages and circumstances. Call 1-800-273-8255 and press 1 for help, or use the Veterans Crisis Chat.
▪ Emergency assistance: If the situation is potentially life-threatening, get immediate emergency help by dialing 911.
North Carolina
▪ LME/MCO: All North Carolina counties have local management entities/managed care organizations that can connect people who need mental or behavioral help to services. Find yours here.
▪ Crisis Solutions: Visit crisissolutionsnc.org/ to see what crisis services are available in your county.
▪ NC Behavioral Health Crisis Referral System: If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, call HOPE4NC or text “hope” to 1-855-587-3463.
Charlotte area
▪ National Alliance on Mental Illness — Charlotte: NAMI’s Charlotte crisis hotline is available at 1-704-566-3410.
▪ Safe Alliance: Reach the crisis hotline at 704-332-2513.
▪ Cardinal Innovations Healthcare Solutions: Cardinal’s Access Center is available 24/7. Call 800-939-5911 to reach a service specialist.
▪ Monarch: Call the local crisis center at 866-272-7826 for support.
▪ Social Justice Emotional Response Collective: Founded in 2016 to service and prioritize the emotional needs of queer and trans people of color in Charlotte, SJERC’s hotline is available 24/7 at 704-659-4997.
▪ CMPD/Mecklenburg County: Crisis response teams are available via the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Crisis Intervention Team and Mecklenburg County Crisis. The crisis unit hotline is 704-566-3410 (select option 1 after dialing). When dialing 911 in Charlotte in a life-threatening situation, callers may ask for a Crisis Intervention officer or a “C-I-T” officer.
▪ Substance abuse: Connect with local agencies and treatment options for support in recovering from substance abuse by visiting Mecklenburg County’s community resources website. Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in the Charlotte area are listed at charlotteaa.org, and a 24-hour hotline can be reached at 704-332-4387. Narcotics Anonymous 24-hour hotline can be reached at 980-200-9349. Anuvia addiction treatment services in Charlotte can be reached at 704-376-7447.
▪ Atrium Health: Reach Atrium’s Behavioral Health Help Line at 704-444-2400.
▪ Novant Health: Reach Novant’s Behavioral Health Call Center: 1-800-786-1585.
Suicide warning signs
Warning signs that a loved one may be at risk for suicide, according to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, include:
- Talking about wanting to die
- Having extreme mood swings or acting recklessly
- Withdrawing or isolating
- Increasing drug or alcohol use
- Talking about feeling like a burden to friends and family
- Sleeping too much or too little
- Seeking out means for dying by suicide, including online
Suicide prevention tips
There are things you can do to help someone in crisis. If someone displays signs of being at risk for suicide, the American Psychiatric Association recommends:
- Asking them about how they’re feeling
- Reminding them you’re there for them in the short and long term
- Reducing their access to means for suicide
- Connecting them with mental health care and other resources
- Following up with them to see how they’re doing and reminding them they can always come to you.
And remember, those who are helping a loved one can also reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and other resources for assistance.
This story was originally published December 10, 2021 at 6:25 AM with the headline "In a mental health crisis? Here’s where to get help in Charlotte, NC and beyond."
