Mental Health Resources:
You Are Not Alone
Taking the next step after a psychiatric hospitalization can feel overwhelming โ for patients, families, and caregivers alike. Continuing care after discharge is an important part of recovery and can include outpatient counseling, medication management, peer support, family services, support groups, crisis services, and other community resources.
The Rayzors Foundation has compiled this fairly comprehensive resource guide to help individuals and families in Western New York, particularly the Erie and Niagara County region, find mental health support close to home.
This guide is intended as a resource and does not constitute medical advice or endorsement of any specific provider. Services, hours, insurance participation, and eligibility may change. Please contact organizations directly to confirm current information.
CRISIS CARE: If You Need Help Right Now
BryLin Hospital โ Crisis Inpatient Mental Health Care
1263 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14209
(716) 886-8200
Admissions: (716) 886-8200 ext. 2264
BryLin Hospital provides short-term inpatient psychiatric hospitalization and crisis stabilization for children, adolescents, and adults experiencing acute mental health concerns.
If you or someone you love is experiencing a mental health crisis and may need inpatient care, you can contact BryLin’s Admissions Department directly. A psychiatric registered nurse will conduct a confidential screening to help determine whether inpatient hospitalization may be appropriate. No physician referral is required for voluntary admissions. BryLin can also verify insurance benefits and, when appropriate, recommend a lower level of care.
Please call BryLin before coming to the hospital for a voluntary admission.
Admissions hours:
- MondayโFriday: 7 a.m.โ11 p.m.
- SaturdayโSunday: 9 a.m.โ5 p.m.
Important: BryLin Hospital does not have a psychiatric emergency room and does not provide emergency in-person psychiatric evaluations. If you are experiencing an immediate life-threatening emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Website: BryLin Hospital
ECMC Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP)
ECMC Health Campus
462 Grider Street, Buffalo, NY 14215
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
ECMC’s Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP) is a hospital-based emergency psychiatric service for children, adolescents, adults, and older adults experiencing a mental health crisis. CPEP provides emergency psychiatric evaluation, assessment, and treatment and includes an Extended Observation Unit for individuals who may need additional assessment and stabilization.
How to access CPEP: Individuals seeking psychiatric emergency care should first go to the ECMC Emergency Department at 462 Grider Street. From there, patients are directed to the appropriate adult or child/adolescent CPEP area for psychiatric evaluation. Patients may arrive independently or with family or friends.
ECMC also offers additional crisis services through its behavioral health program, including mobile crisis outreach and specialized services for children and adolescents.
Emergency Department: (716) 898-3000
Behavioral & Mental Health Emergencies: (716) 834-3131
Website: ECMC Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program
BestResponse Intensive Crisis Stabilization Center
430 Niagara Street, Buffalo, NY 14201
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
(716) 961-7400
BestResponse, operated by BestSelf Behavioral Health, provides 24/7 crisis stabilization for children, adolescents, and adults experiencing mental health or substance-use crises. Services include counseling, psychosocial assessment, medication support, and short-term stabilization for up to 23 hours and 59 minutes. Walk-ins are accepted, and no appointment is required.
Website: BestResponse Crisis Center
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides free, confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for people experiencing suicidal thoughts, emotional distress, mental health crises, or substance-use concerns. Family members and caregivers can also call on behalf of a loved one.
Website: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Crisis Services
24-Hour Crisis Hotline: (716) 834-3131
Crisis Services provides 24-hour crisis support for Erie County, including suicide prevention, crisis counseling, and connections to additional community services.
Niagara County Crisis Services
24-Hour Crisis Hotline: (716) 285-3515
Provides crisis intervention and support for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis in Niagara County.
ECMC Help Center
462 Grider Street, Buffalo, NY 14215
(716) 898-1594
The ECMC Help Center is a walk-in urgent behavioral health service for adults experiencing a mental health crisis who do not require emergency psychiatric treatment or inpatient hospitalization.
The Help Center can provide immediate support for concerns such as anxiety, depression, obsessive thoughts or behaviors, hallucinations, and feelings of hopelessness or helplessness. Staff can also help connect individuals with ongoing services, including outpatient treatment, Partial Hospitalization, Intensive Outpatient Programs, and other community resources.
Walk-in hours: Daily, including holidays, 8 a.m.โ12 midnight.
Website: ECMC Help Center
Western New York Outpatient Mental Health Resources
BestSelf Behavioral Health
Phone: (716) 884-0888
BestSelf provides outpatient behavioral health services for children, adolescents, adults, and families throughout Western New York. Services can include individual and family counseling, psychiatric evaluations, medication management, substance-use treatment, care management, peer services, and other behavioral health supports.
BestSelf has multiple locations throughout Erie County and offers services designed to help individuals transition from crisis care into ongoing community-based treatment.
Website: BestSelf Behavioral Health
Endeavor Health Services
Central Intake: (716) 895-6701
Endeavor Health Services provides accessible behavioral health services for children, adolescents, adults, and families. Services include outpatient counseling, psychiatric services, substance-use treatment, recovery-oriented services, group support, and crisis intervention.
Endeavor operates multiple locations throughout Western New York, including Buffalo, Cheektowaga, Williamsville, Orchard Park, and other communities.
Endeavor also offers an integrated approach to mental and physical health and operates as a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC).
Website: Endeavor Health Services
Horizon Health Services
Phone: (716) 831-1800
Horizon provides mental health and substance-use treatment for individuals and families throughout Western New York. Services include individual and group counseling, psychiatric care, family support, recovery coaching, peer services, care coordination, and addiction treatment.
Horizon serves individuals age 3 and older and has locations throughout Erie, Niagara, and surrounding counties.
Website: Horizon Health Services
Spectrum Health & Human Services
Spectrum provides mental health counseling, substance-use services, crisis intervention, and community-based behavioral health programs throughout Western New York.
Spectrum also operates C.A.R.E.S. (Crisis And Re-Stabilization Emergency Services) for children and adolescents experiencing a behavioral health crisis.
Website: Spectrum Health & Human Services
Child & Family Services
Phone: (716) 842-2750
Child & Family Services provides outpatient behavioral health services for children, adolescents, adults, and families. Services include counseling, psychiatric services, trauma-informed care, and family support.
Website: Child & Family Services
Jewish Family Services of Western New York
Phone: (716) 883-1914
Jewish Family Services provides counseling and behavioral health services for children, adolescents, adults, and families. Services include individual and family counseling and support for concerns including depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, family conflict, adjustment issues, and other mental health concerns. Both in-person and telehealth services may be available when clinically appropriate.
Website: Jewish Family Services of Western New York
ECMC Behavioral Health Services
462 Grider Street, Buffalo
ECMC provides comprehensive behavioral health services, including outpatient counseling, psychiatric evaluation and medication management, crisis services, and specialized programs.
The ECMC Help Center also provides an urgent behavioral health option for adults who need immediate assistance but do not require inpatient hospitalization.
Website: ECMC Behavioral Health Services
Niagara County Counseling & Wellness Services
Lockport: 475 S. Transit Street, Suite 500
Niagara Falls: Niagara County location
Niagara County Counseling & Wellness Services provides outpatient behavioral health services to children and adults who live in Niagara County. Services address concerns including depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, psychiatric illness, substance use, and relapse prevention.
Website: Niagara County Mental Health Services
Peer Support, Advocacy & Family Resources
Mental Health Advocates of WNY
Phone: (716) 886-1242
Mental Health Advocates of WNY provides education, advocacy, peer support, family support, youth programs, and assistance navigating the mental health system.
Their services can be especially valuable for families who need help understanding available resources and navigating the behavioral health system.
Website: Mental Health Advocates of WNY
NAMI Buffalo & Erie County
Helpline: (716) 226-6264
NAMI Buffalo & Erie County provides education, advocacy, and support for individuals living with mental illness and their families and caregivers. Family support groups and other educational programs are available.
Website: NAMI Buffalo & Erie County
Compeer of Greater Buffalo
Phone: (716) 883-3331
Compeer provides non-clinical peer friendship and community support for individuals living with mental health challenges. Peer relationships can provide social connection and reduce isolation while someone continues with professional treatment.
Website: Compeer of Greater Buffalo
Erie County Anti-Stigma Coalition –ย Join the Conversation
The Erie County Anti-Stigma Coalition is a communitywide initiative dedicated to reducing the stigma surrounding mental illness and encouraging people to talk openly about mental health.
The Coalition brings together more than 70 organizations and community partners with a shared goal: helping people understand that mental illness is common, treatment is available, and recovery is possible.
The Coalition’s Join the Conversation initiative provides educational information, stories, events, and resources designed to encourage Western New Yorkers to speak openly about mental health.
Learn more: Erie County Anti-Stigma Coalition โ Join the Conversation
Remember: Seeking help is a sign of strengthโnot weakness. Mental illness should not be a source of shame or stigma.
Substance Use & Recovery Resources
Mental health and substance-use concerns frequently overlap. If substance use is affecting you or someone you love, additional support is available.
Erie County Addiction Hotline
(716) 831-7007
Provides support, information, and referrals for individuals experiencing substance-use concerns and for family members seeking help.
SAMHSA National Helpline
1-800-662-HELP (4357)
Provides confidential information and treatment referrals for mental health and substance-use disorders.
Additional Local Resources
211 WNY
Dial 2-1-1
211 WNY connects Western New Yorkers with health and human services, including mental health counseling, crisis services, housing assistance, food assistance, substance-use treatment, support groups, transportation, and other community resources.
The service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and calls are confidential.
Website: 211 WNY
Erie County Department of Mental Health
Erie County maintains information about local mental health programs, contracted behavioral health agencies, support groups, crisis services, and other community resources.
Website: Erie County Department of Mental Health
National Mental Health Resources
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988
24/7 crisis support for people experiencing emotional distress, suicidal thoughts, or mental health or substance-use crises.
Website: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
SAMHSA National Helpline
1-800-662-HELP (4357)
Information and referrals for mental health and substance-use treatment.
Website: SAMHSA
NAMI
1-800-950-NAMI (6264)
National mental health education, advocacy, and support resources for individuals and families.
Website: National Alliance on Mental Illness
Veterans Crisis Line
Call 988, then press 1
Veterans, service members, and their loved ones can access confidential crisis support 24/7.
The Trevor Project
1-866-488-7386
Crisis support and suicide prevention resources for LGBTQ+ young people.
Website: The Trevor Project
Postpartum Support International
1-800-944-4773
Support, information, and resources for individuals and families experiencing perinatal or postpartum mental health challenges.
Website: Postpartum Support International
Taking the Next Step After Discharge
Leaving the hospital is an important milestone, but recovery doesn’t end at discharge. Staying connected to treatment and support can help reduce the risk of returning to crisis.
Patients and families should consider:
- Keeping all scheduled outpatient appointments.
- Taking medications exactly as prescribed and discussing side effects or concerns with a healthcare professional.
- Developing and maintaining a personal Safety Plan.
- Identifying trusted family members, friends, or other support people.
- Knowing which crisis resources are available before a crisis occurs.
- Asking about support groups or peer services.
- Addressing substance-use concerns when they are part of the person’s recovery.
- Contacting the treatment team if symptoms begin getting worse.
- Calling 988 or seeking emergency assistance when immediate safety is a concern.
Recovery Is Possible
Mental health recovery is not always a straight line. There may be difficult days, setbacks, and moments when additional help is needed. What matters is knowing that help is available and you don’t have to navigate it alone.
The Rayzors Foundation is committed to helping raise awareness, reduce stigma, and connect individuals and families throughout Western New York with resources that support mental health and recovery.
If you or someone you love is struggling, reach out. There is help. There is hope.
Important Disclaimer:
The resources listed on this page are provided for informational purposes only. Inclusion does not constitute an endorsement or guarantee of services by the Rayzors Foundation. Availability, hours, eligibility requirements, insurance participation, fees, and contact information may change. Please contact each organization directly to verify current information and determine whether its services are appropriate for your needs.
If you are experiencing an immediate life-threatening emergency, call 911. If you are experiencing a mental health or emotional crisis, call or text 988.
