For Onondaga County, New York, only
Call 315-463-1100

What is Youth Emergency Services for Mental Health?

Youth Emergency Services for Mental Health responds to mental health emergencies (such as threats of harm to self or others) of children 18 years and younger in Onondaga County (New York). It provides a single point of information and access for people concerned about the safety or welfare of a child experiencing a mental health emergency in Onondaga County.

Who is involved in the program?

Youth Emergency Services for Mental Health is a collaborative effort of

• Onondaga County Department of Mental Health
• Contact Community Services
• Onondaga Case Management Services
• Comprehensive Emergency Services Program (CPEP) located at St. Joseph’s Hospital
• Licensed mental health clinics in Onondaga County operated by St. Joseph’s Hospital
• Onondaga Pastoral Counseling Center, ARISE, Hutchings Psychiatric Center, University Hospital and the county's mental health department

Who Can Call?

A parent, caregiver, school staff or anyone with an emergency mental health concern about a child can call. The line is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Children may also call for themselves.

What can you expect if you call?

A trained crisis line worker will evaluate the situation and decide the next step:

• Sometimes simply talking over the situation with the crisis line worker will be enough to resolve the immediate crisis.

• If the child is currently seeing a mental health provider, the crisis line worker may help access that person or agency.

• The crisis line worker may call the mobile assessment team for a consultation or on-site visit.

• The crisis line worker may recommend that the child be taken to the Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP) at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse, NY.