Quick answer: In a teen mental health emergency in Middle Georgia, call 911 for immediate danger. For crisis support, call or text 988, or call the Georgia Crisis and Access Line at 1-800-715-4225, which can send a mobile crisis team. For ongoing care, local public providers include River Edge Behavioral Health in Macon and New Horizons Behavioral Health in Columbus.
How we put this guide together
Perry Behavioral Health is a residential mental health program for middle and high schoolers in Perry, Georgia. We built this list for families in Macon, Warner Robins, Perry, Columbus and the surrounding area who need help quickly and don’t know where to start. Most of the resources below aren’t connected to us. We confirmed details through the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) and other public sources, but services and phone numbers can change, so check before you go.
Resources at a glance
| Resource | What it’s for | How to reach it |
| 911 | Immediate danger, injury, overdose or suicide attempt | Call 911 |
| 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline | Suicidal thoughts or emotional crisis | Call or text 988 |
| Georgia Crisis and Access Line (GCAL) | Crisis help, mobile crisis teams, finding crisis beds and services | 1-800-715-4225 or the My GCAL app |
| Crisis Text Line | Support by text | Text HOME to 741741 |
| River Edge Behavioral Health | Public behavioral health provider in Macon | river-edge.org |
| New Horizons Behavioral Health | Public behavioral health provider in Columbus, including child and adolescent services | 2100 Comer Avenue, Columbus |
| DBHDD provider locations | Finding your county’s public provider and crisis units | dbhdd.georgia.gov/locations |
| NAMI Georgia | Education and support for families | namiga.org |
| SAMHSA National Helpline | Treatment referrals for mental health and substance use | 1-800-662-4357 |
1. 911: when your teen is in immediate danger
Call 911 if your teen has attempted suicide, has a serious injury, may have overdosed, or is a danger to themselves or others right now. When you call, say that it’s a mental health emergency so responders can prepare. If you can safely get your teen to an emergency room yourself, that’s also an option.
2. 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
988 is a free, confidential, 24/7 line for anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts or emotional distress, or for someone worried about a loved one. You can call or text. Georgia launched 988 in July 2022, and calls are answered by trained crisis counselors. Teens can also use it themselves if they’re uncomfortable talking to a parent.
3. Georgia Crisis and Access Line (GCAL)
GCAL, at 1-800-715-4225, is Georgia’s statewide 24/7 crisis line, operated by Behavioral Health Link with funding from DBHDD. According to the state, GCAL can dispatch mobile crisis teams and help find an open crisis bed across Georgia. It can also connect families with urgent appointments and state-funded providers.
Teens can call, text or chat with GCAL through the free My GCAL app, which can feel less intimidating than a phone call.
4. Mobile crisis teams
When a teen is in crisis at home or school, a mobile crisis team can come to you for an in-person assessment and short-term help, often avoiding an emergency room visit. In Georgia, mobile crisis is dispatched through GCAL, so start by calling 1-800-715-4225.
5. Crisis stabilization units for youth
Georgia’s crisis system includes crisis stabilization units that provide short-term, 24/7 behavioral health stabilization for youth and adults. GCAL can help determine whether one is appropriate and find an open bed. You can also find locations through DBHDD’s provider locations directory.
6. River Edge Behavioral Health in Macon
River Edge Behavioral Health is a public behavioral health provider serving the Macon area. It operates crisis service centers in Macon and Milledgeville, which provide short-term crisis stabilization for adults. For teens, contact River Edge to ask about its child and adolescent services, or call GCAL for youth crisis options.
7. New Horizons Behavioral Health in Columbus
New Horizons Behavioral Health, at 2100 Comer Avenue in Columbus, is the public provider of mental health, developmental disability and addiction services for an eight-county area of West Central Georgia, including Muscogee County. Its services include child and adolescent care, and it offers a walk-in Express Clinic for same-day visits with a counselor.
8. Your county’s community service board
Every Georgia county is served by a community service board (CSB) or public provider for behavioral health care, often regardless of ability to pay. Families in Houston, Peach, Crawford and surrounding counties, including Warner Robins and Perry, can find their local provider through DBHDD’s locations directory or by calling GCAL.
9. Your teen’s school counselor
School counselors can’t provide long-term therapy, but they can help with safety planning at school, academic accommodations, and referrals to local providers. Let the school know if your teen is struggling, especially after a crisis or before returning from treatment.
10. Support for parents
Caring for a teen in crisis is exhausting. NAMI Georgia offers education programs and support groups for family members. The SAMHSA National Helpline, 1-800-662-4357, offers free, confidential treatment referrals 24/7.
When a higher level of care is needed
Crisis services are designed to stabilize, not to provide long-term treatment. If your teen keeps returning to crisis, or weekly therapy hasn’t been enough, a residential program may help. Perry Behavioral Health provides residential treatment for middle and high schoolers from across Middle Georgia, with daily schooling and required family involvement. Call (478) 324-4948 or contact us online.
FAQ
Who do I call for a teen mental health crisis in Georgia?
Call 911 if your teen is in immediate danger. Otherwise, call or text 988, or call the Georgia Crisis and Access Line at 1-800-715-4225. GCAL operates 24/7, can send a mobile crisis team, and can help locate crisis beds and services across Georgia.
What is the My GCAL app?
My GCAL is a free app that lets people, including teens, call, text or chat with Georgia Crisis and Access Line counselors 24/7. Many teens find texting or chatting easier than calling. It’s available in the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Can a mobile crisis team come to my house?
Yes. In Georgia, mobile crisis teams provide in-person crisis assessment and short-term intervention in the community, including at home or school. Request one by calling the Georgia Crisis and Access Line at 1-800-715-4225.
Where can I get low-cost mental health care for my teen in Middle Georgia?
Georgia’s community service boards provide behavioral health care, often regardless of ability to pay. In Macon, contact River Edge Behavioral Health; in Columbus, New Horizons Behavioral Health. Use DBHDD’s locations directory or call GCAL to find your county’s provider.
What should I do after my teen’s crisis is over?
Schedule follow-up care quickly, keep medications and firearms secured, create a safety plan with your teen’s clinician, and stay closely involved. If your teen keeps returning to crisis, ask a professional whether a higher level of care, such as intensive outpatient or residential treatment, is needed.