911 Alternatives for Mental Health: Texas

Law enforcement is currently charged with far more responsibilities than they are equipped to manage. To aid in the protection, health and well being of your own community, arm yourself with more tools. If someone you know or are in close proximity with is a threat to themselves or others due to a potential psychiatric break, consider calling the alternatives below.

Did you know Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) has a mobile crisis outreach team (MCOT) that provides counseling services to people at their home, school or another location? Texas Health and Human Services contracts with 37 local mental health authorities and 2 local behavioral health authorities to deliver mental health services in communities across the state—through local mental health authorities (LMHAs) and local behavioral health authorities (LBHAs)—available 24/7, 365 days a year.

LMHAs and LBHAs serve every county in Texas providing a variety of mental health services and supports—priced based on your ability to pay—including outpatient mental health services: 

Austin Travis County Integral Care, Travis County’s MCOT 512-472-4357 The crisis hotline for your county may be found here or dial 2-1-1 to request connection to your local mental health authority (LMHA) or local behavioral health authority (LBHA).

A law enforcement representative for emergency situations—a mental health liaison officer or deputy— is also available for two purposes:

  1. Respond to emergency calls involving health individuals in a mental crisis

  2. Divert individuals from the criminal-justice system and connect them with mental health services

Departments are called Mental Health Units or Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT). Both refer to a group of law enforcement officers who are trained to respond to persons in a mental health crisis. The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement offers the Mental Health Officer Training Course, with a minimum requirement of 40 hours and 80 maximum hours; the Mental Health Peace Officer Distance Education certification, requiring 40 hours. A 12-week field training program is mandated for mental health deputies. When 911 is called instead of the number below, this can happen.

Numbers for Central Texas include:

  • Travis County Crisis Intervention Team, 512-854-3430

  • Austin Police Department Crisis Intervention Team, 512-854-3450

  • Williamson County Mobile Crisis Outreach Team, 512-943-3545

  • Hill Country MHDD (Hays and South Counties), 877-466-0660

  • Scheib MH Center (San Marcos), 512-392-7151

  • Bastrop Crisis Intervention Team, 512-549-5100

  • Burnet Crisis Intervention Team, 512-756-8080