Crisis lines in Georgia provide free, confidential, 24-hour support for people facing mental health emergencies, suicidal thoughts, and substance use crises. Whether you need statewide resources or a crisis line near you in Atlanta, Augusta, or Savannah, trained counselors are available to help at any time of day or night.
How crisis line resources work in Georgia
Crisis lines connect callers with trained counselors who provide emotional support, help assess immediate safety needs, and link people to local follow-up resources. These resources may include mobile crisis teams, crisis stabilization units, community mental health centers, and peer support specialists.
Georgia has both statewide access through the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and local crisis lines operated by community service boards (CSBs) across the state. CSBs are Georgia’s primary providers of public behavioral health services and operate in all regions, connecting crisis line callers to local follow-up care.
Crisis lines are distinct from emergency services. If someone is in immediate physical danger, 911 is the right first call. Crisis lines are best suited for urgent situations where the person needs emotional support, safety planning, and referrals rather than an immediate emergency response.
State considerations for crisis lines in Georgia
Georgia has expanded its behavioral health crisis system significantly in recent years, with increased funding for mobile crisis teams and crisis stabilization units through its CSB network. The state’s integration with 988 call routing has improved access for callers in rural areas of South Georgia and other underserved regions.
Rural Georgians may experience longer wait times for in-person follow-up than callers in the Atlanta metro area. Telehealth-based follow-up is increasingly available through Georgia CSBs, and crisis counselors can help connect callers in remote areas to the most accessible option for their location.
Major metropolitan areas in Georgia
Atlanta
Atlanta and the surrounding metro area have the most developed crisis response infrastructure in Georgia, including mobile crisis teams, crisis stabilization units, and emergency psychiatric services. Multiple CSBs serve the metro Atlanta region, offering crisis line callers a wide range of local follow-up options.
Augusta
Augusta serves the Central Savannah River Area and has local CSB-based crisis services. Callers from Augusta and surrounding counties can be connected to mobile crisis outreach and community mental health follow-up through the regional CSB.
Columbus
Columbus is anchored by a regional CSB that provides crisis line callers with access to local behavioral health follow-up, including referrals to crisis stabilization and outpatient services in the West Central Georgia area.
Macon
Macon and Middle Georgia are served by a regional CSB that partners with the statewide crisis system. Callers from the Macon area can access local crisis stabilization and mobile crisis services through this regional network.
Savannah
Savannah has local CSB-based crisis services and community mental health providers. Callers in the Coastal Georgia area can be connected to follow-up support through the regional behavioral health network, including crisis stabilization options.
What you’ll find on this page
- Statewide and regional crisis lines accessible across Georgia
- Text-based options for callers who prefer not to call by phone
- Specialized crisis resources for veterans, youth, LGBTQ+ individuals, and other groups
- Information on Georgia Community Service Board crisis services and how they work
- Guidance on when a crisis line is more appropriate than calling 911
- Resources for families and caregivers in Georgia supporting someone in crisis