Prince William Reporter

Accessing Crisis Services in Prince William County

If you or someone you know is at risk of harm or in a mental health crisis but is not in immediate danger, call 703-527-4077 or text CONNECT to 85511. Your call or text will be received locally by someone who knows the greater Prince William County area and can provide local resources. The individual will be available to provide immediate help over the phone, such as referrals to local behavioral health and other community services.

Nationally, people who are struggling or in crisis can call or text 988 for 27/7 access to trained crisis counselors who can help. While 988 serves as a universal entry point no matter where you live in the United States, the local 703-527-4077 phone number or texting CONNECT to 85511 connects Prince William County and area residents to someone from the area who can assist and share ideas about how to help.

One in five individuals will have a mental health challenge this year. If you have a loved one you are concerned about, take the following steps:

1. Listen. It is important for everyone to feel heard and understood. Listen carefully, repeat what you heard and ask if you understood correctly. Ask additional questions only after listening.
2. Check for danger. Ask directly and openly if they are thinking about killing themselves or others. If yes, ask how and when. Asking will not put those thoughts in their head. Rather, it tells them you care and that you will help keep them safe.
3. Consider your options. If you are concerned, reach out for help right away. There are several options to speak with a mental health professional quickly and get help immediately. Don’t worry about making the wrong choice – whether calling 703-527-4077 or 988 leads to someone who can help.
4. Call a professional. If you do not believe there is immediate danger, call a counselor, therapist, pediatrician or family physician familiar with you or your loved one. This professional can help assess the situation and offer help.

If there is immediate danger, go to the nearest hospital emergency department. Hospital emergency rooms are open 24/7/365 and are available when individuals need them more. They will evaluate and make an assessment of the needs. Crisis Intervention/Emergency Services are available through Community Services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for individuals experiencing a behavioral health or substance use-related crisis. Clinicians evaluate individuals and make recommendations for inpatient hospitalizations or referrals, as needed.

Both scheduled and walk-in services are available at the Manassas office (7969 Ashton Ave., Manassas, VA 20109) or Woodbridge office (15941 Donald Curtis Dr., Suite 200, Woodbridge, VA 22191) from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. After these hours and on weekends and holidays, Emergency Services staff can be accessed by calling 703-792-7800 (TTY:711) in Manassas or 703-792-4900 in Woodbridge (TTY:711). Call 911 if the crisis is a life-threatening emergency. Make sure to notify the operator that it is a psychiatric emergency and ask for a Co-Responder (Officer and clinician team) or an officer trained in crisis intervention or trained to assist people experiencing a psychiatric emergency.

For more information on Prince William County Community Services, visit pwcva.gov/communityservices.

Original source can be found here