In an emergency, call 9-1-1.
Officers will respond to situations where someone with a mental health issue has gone missing, lost control, or is a danger to themselves or someone else.
The Howard County Police Department trains all officers on mental health awareness, and most have received additional specialized training, known as Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training.
Officers are taught techniques to help calm a volatile situation, work directly with loved ones, and provide compassionate responses that prioritize treatment over incarceration, when appropriate. A CIT-trained officer can always be requested, if one is not already on the scene of an incident.
Immediate Assistance
(410) 531-6677 | HCPD.org
The Mobile Crisis Team (MCT) consists of trained mental health professionals who can spend time with a person in crisis and complete a mental health assessment to determine what next step should be taken.
MCT can be requested to assist police officers on location by either you or police officers.
They operate 24/7.
(410) 531-6677 | grassrootscrisis.org
8990 Old Annapolis Road, Suite A, MD 21045
The Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center offers a hotline that provides 24/7 telephone counseling and free walk-in counseling.
(410) 740-7890 | HCGH.org
5755 Cedar Lane, Columbia, MD 21044
The hospital’s psychiatric unit completes emergency evaluations on people in crisis, on both a voluntary and involuntary basis. This is where your loved one would be taken by police during an emergency petition.
(410) 938-5302 | sheppardpratt.org
7220 Discovery Drive Elkridge, MD 21075
Urgent Behavioral health evaluation and triage for referral and care for ages 5 and up.
District County Services
Sometimes, an individual may be experiencing a psychiatric crisis and is unwilling to seek help for themselves. If the situation requires immediate intervention, call 911. Any interested person (friend, relative, neighbor, or health professional) may file a petition for emergency evaluation review by a judge.
To file a petition for emergency evaluation, go to the nearest district court during court hours and ask for the “petition for emergency evaluation” form.
An Extreme Risk Protective Order (ERPO) is a court-issued civil order temporarily
requiring a person to surrender any firearms or ammunition to law enforcement. An ERPO may be filed against a person who poses an immediate and present danger of causing personal injury to self or others by having firearms.
A petition may be filed by a spouse, a cohabitant, a relative or a person with a child in common, a current dating or intimate partner or a current or former legal guardian.
For more information please visit: mdcourts.gov/district/ERPO
Advocacy, Education & Support
Call or text 988 | 988lifeline.org
The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress and provides mental health, substance use or other emotional distress and/or crisis resources for you or your loved ones.
(410) 313-6202 | hchealth.org
The BBH raises awareness of behavioral health needs in our community, provides education and ensures equal access to programs and resources. Call to discuss resources and referrals.
(667) 203-1254 or (667) 203-1274 | hchealth.gov
Offers substance use and/or co-occurring disorders recovery support, safe usage resources and referrals.
(877) 770-4801 | maryland.gov
Regional resource coordinators provide assistance to veterans and their families to support a healthy transition to civilian life. MCV makes connections to wellness services, with an emphasis on mental health and substance use disorder services.
(410) 772-9300 | namihowardcounty.org
NAMI Howard County provides free services, resources and support for families and individuals affected by mental illness.
(410) 313-1234 | marylandaccesspoint.211md.org
Provide information and referrals for health (Behavioral included) for older adults, individuals with disabilities and caregivers.
Helpline: (410) 769-8400 Toll Free: (866) 806-8400 | pathfindersforautism.org
Provide support, services and resources for families and individuals with Autism.