You Are Not Alone.
Finding the right mental health support can sometimes feel overwhelming. Whether you're looking for immediate crisis help, a counselor, support for a loved one, or simply someone to talk to, help is available.
The 7th Inning Stretch has compiled this guide to help individuals and families throughout Western New York, particularly Erie and Niagara counties, find mental health support and other valuable resources close to home.
Choose the option that best describes what you need right now.
Get Help Now
If you or someone you love is experiencing a mental health crisis, help is available. The appropriate resource depends on the urgency of the situation and the type of care needed.
Free, confidential crisis support is available 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.
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, medication support, crisis assessment, stabilization and connection to follow-up care. Individuals can receive care for up to 23 hours and 59 minutes.
Walk-ins are accepted. No appointment is required.
BryLin Hospital provides short-term inpatient psychiatric hospitalization and crisis stabilization for children, adolescents and adults experiencing acute mental health concerns.
Individuals and families can contact BryLin's Admissions Department directly for a confidential phone screening with a psychiatric registered nurse to determine whether inpatient care may be appropriate.
No physician referral is required for voluntary admissions.
Admissions hours:
Monday–Friday: 7 a.m.–11 p.m.
Saturday–Sunday: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Important: BryLin Hospital does not have a psychiatric emergency room and does not provide emergency in-person psychiatric evaluations. Please call the Admissions Department before coming to the hospital for voluntary admission.
Crisis Services provides 24-hour crisis support for Erie County, including suicide prevention, crisis counseling and connections to additional community services.
ECMC's Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP) provides hospital-based emergency psychiatric evaluation, assessment and treatment for children, adolescents, adults and older adults experiencing a mental health crisis.
Individuals seeking emergency psychiatric care should go to the ECMC Emergency Department at 462 Grider Street and will be directed to the appropriate psychiatric emergency service.
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 provides immediate support and can connect individuals with ongoing treatment and community resources.
Provides crisis intervention and support for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis in Niagara County.
In a life-threatening emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
For immediate mental health crisis support, call or text 988.
Find Counseling
Once the crisis has passed—or if hospitalization isn't needed—the next step may be finding ongoing professional support.
Finding the right therapist or behavioral health provider can be an important part of recovery. The organizations below offer outpatient counseling, psychiatric services and other behavioral health supports throughout Western New York.
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.
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.
ECMC provides comprehensive behavioral health services, including outpatient counseling, psychiatric evaluation and medication management, and specialized behavioral health programs.
ECMC's outpatient services are designed to provide integrated care for patients and families and include locations in Buffalo and Northern Erie County.
Endeavor Health Services provides 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 and offers an integrated approach to mental and physical health.
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.
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. In-person and telehealth services may be available when clinically appropriate.
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.
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.
Find Support
Professional treatment is only one part of mental health recovery. Peer relationships, family support, advocacy, education and community connections can all play an important role.
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 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.
Remember: Seeking help is a sign of strength—not weakness. Mental illness should not be a source of shame or stigma.
Compeer provides non-clinical peer friendship and community support for individuals living with mental health challenges.
Peer relationships can provide social connection, companionship, and support while someone continues with professional treatment.
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.
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.
Help a Loved One
When someone you care about is struggling with their mental health, you don't have to have all the answers.
If you're worried about someone else, you can call or text 988 yourself. You don't have to wait for them to make the call.
Recovery & Substance Use
Mental health and substance-use concerns frequently overlap. If substance use is affecting you or someone you love, additional support is available.
Provides support, information, and referrals for individuals experiencing substance-use concerns and for family members seeking help.
Provides mental health and substance-use treatment, counseling, recovery services, medication-assisted treatment, peer support, and family resources.
Provides confidential information and treatment referrals for mental health and substance-use disorders.
More Local Resources
211 WNY connects Western New Yorkers with health and human services, including mental health counseling, crisis services, housing, food assistance, substance-use treatment, support groups, transportation and other community resources.
Information about local mental health programs, behavioral health agencies, support groups, crisis services and other community resources.
National Resources
24/7 crisis support for people experiencing emotional distress, suicidal thoughts, or mental health or substance-use crises.
National mental health education, advocacy, and support resources for individuals and families.
Support, information, and resources for individuals and families experiencing perinatal or postpartum mental health challenges.
Information and referrals for mental health and substance-use treatment.
Crisis support and suicide prevention resources for LGBTQ+ young people.
Veterans, service members, and their loved ones can access confidential crisis support 24/7.
After Discharge
After a Hospital Stay
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.
A few things to consider:
Recovery Is Possible
Mental health recovery isn't always a straight line. There may be difficult days, setbacks and moments when additional help is needed.
What matters is knowing that you don't have to navigate those moments alone.
The 7th Inning Stretch is committed to raising awareness, reducing stigma and connecting individuals and families throughout Western New York with resources that support mental health and recovery.
There is help. There is hope.
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