The Boston Emergency Services Team, under the leadership of Boston Medical Center and with the support of the Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership and the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, provides 24-hour service for adults and children in need of immediate psychiatric intervention. Individuals who need emergency care are assessed and briefly treated by experienced, master’s level clinicians and physicians who specialize in rapid response to those in psychiatric crisis. B.E.S.T. provides a comprehensive, highly integrated system of crisis evaluation to children, adolescents, adults, including the elderly, the homeless, mentally ill and the multi-cultural populations within the Metro Boston areas.

1-800-981-HELP

This toll-free number can be used 24 hours a day, seven days a week. By using the 1-800-981-HELP helpline, a caller is assisted in dealing with a psychiatric, crisis support, information and referrals. The caller may be directed to a B.E.S.T. Urgent Care Center, a Designated Emergency Department, or a crisis intervention mobile team may be dispatched to the site of the crisis. If you or someone in your family is in crisis, consider calling the 1-800 number for guidance. They may suggest useful alternatives to the Emergency Department.

What we offer:

• Immediate information & referrals
• Psychiatric evaluation
• Crisis intervention and treatment (including psychopharmacology)
• 12-bed short term Crisis Stabilization Unit (up to 3-5 day stay)
• Referral for ongoing treatment

The Urgent Care Centers

Urgent Care Centers are located at the Dr. Solomon Carter Fuller Mental Health Center at Boston Medical Center and at the Eric Lindemann Mental Health Center. Crisis evaluations that do not require the medical support of a hospital Emergency Department are performed at these sites. The Urgent Care Center also provides short-term crisis treatment, including psychopharmacology support. The Urgent Care Center accepts walk-in clients and serves both children and adults. When needed, the Urgent Care Center will dispatch a mobile crisis team to a site in the community.

The benefits to using the Urgent Care Center are that patients will be seen in a timely fashion and in comfortable surroundings.

The Urgent Care Center is located at the Dr. Solomon Carter Fuller Building, 85 E. Newton Street, Boston. It is open from 7am-11pm.

It is strongly advised that prior to arrival to Urgent Care Center the Call Center be contacted at 1-800-981-4357.

Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU)

This 12-bed unit serves children, adolescents and adults. It operates 24-hours/day as an alternative to inpatient hospitalization. The CSU is staffed by Registered Nurses and Mental Health Counselors. Medical Staff provides daily contacts to clients and provide 24-hour coverage.