Key points
- If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911. For immediate support during a mental health crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Mental Health Line.
- If you are in a mental health or substance use crisis in Denver, free, immediate help is available 24/7 through WellPower and Colorado’s crisis system.
- You do not need insurance, a referral or an appointment to get crisis support today, including walk-in and phone-based options.
At WellPower, we see every day how overwhelming a mental health crisis can feel. Acute distress can come on suddenly or build over time. It can involve anxiety, depression, thoughts of self-harm, substance use or emotional pain that feels unmanageable. In Denver, you are not alone and you do not have to figure this out by yourself.
This article explains what a mental health crisis can look like, why timely care matters and, most importantly, what you can do right now to get help in Denver. The steps below are based on WellPower’s crisis services and the Colorado crisis system.
What is a mental health crisis?
A mental health crisis is any situation in which a person feels unable to cope with emotional, mental health or substance use concerns and needs immediate support. At WellPower, crisis services are available for self-defined crises, meaning you do not have to meet a specific diagnosis or threshold to ask for help.
A crisis may include:
- Intense anxiety or panic that will not ease
- Thoughts of harming yourself or others
- Severe depression or hopelessness
- Substance use concerns that feel out of control
- Emotional distress tied to trauma, loss or major life changes
If something feels urgent to you, it matters. Help is available now.
Why immediate support matters
Mental health crises can escalate quickly without support. Immediate, compassionate care can help stabilize intense emotions, reduce risk and connect people to ongoing resources. In Denver, WellPower operates crisis services designed to meet people where they are, without judgment and regardless of ability to pay.
Crisis care can help you:
- Feel heard and supported in the moment
- De-escalate overwhelming thoughts or emotions
- Create a plan for next steps
- Access referrals to additional care if needed
What to do right now if you are in acute distress in Denver
If you or someone you care about is in crisis, the following options are available 24/7/365.
Step 1: Reach out for immediate support by phone or text
If you need to talk to someone right away, you can contact the 988 Mental Health Line.
- Call or text 988
- Live chat at 988Colorado.comtel:+988
The 988 line is free, confidential and available 24/7. Trained specialists provide immediate human support for emotional, mental health and substance use concerns.
If there is immediate danger to life, call 911.
Step 2: Get in-person crisis support at WellPower’s Walk-In Crisis Center
If you prefer face-to-face help, WellPower operates Denver’s Walk-In Crisis Center, open 24/7/365.
WellPower Walk-In Crisis Center
4353 E. Colfax Ave.
Denver, CO 80220
You do not need:
- An appointment
- A referral
- Insurance or ability to pay
Services are voluntary and available to people of all ages experiencing a self-defined mental health or substance use crisis.
What to expect when you arrive
When you come to the Walk-In Center, you will:
- Complete brief safety procedures and a questionnaire
- Meet with skilled staff for a medical assessment and crisis services
- Receive confidential support, therapeutic intervention and referrals as needed
A typical visit lasts up to a few hours. If a higher level of care is needed, staff can help with same-day referrals.
Learn more about these services here: WellPower Crisis Services
Step 3: Understand Denver’s Behavioral Health Solutions Center
Some people in crisis need more intensive short-term support. The Behavioral Health Solutions Center is operated by WellPower in partnership with the City and County of Denver.
Important things to know:
- The Solutions Center is not open to the public
- Admission is by referral only from first responders or approved partners
- It operates 24/7 and serves adults experiencing a behavioral health crisis
- Services are voluntary and focused on stabilization and transition to community care
The center includes crisis assessment, brief therapy and referral services. Some people may be referred to the on-site Crisis Stabilization Clinic or Transitional Shelter based on eligibility and need.
To understand more about how this option fits into Denver’s crisis response system, visit: Behavioral Health Solutions Center.
Step 4: Know about mobile and alternative crisis responses
Denver also uses alternative crisis response options as part of the broader crisis system.
- Mobile Crisis Response can be dispatched through the 988 line to provide face-to-face support without law enforcement involvement in appropriate situations.
- Support Team Assisted Response (STAR) is a civilian response program dispatched through Denver 911 for certain low-risk mental health calls.
A trained call taker can help determine the most appropriate response based on the situation.
You do not need insurance or money to get help
One of the most common concerns we hear is fear of cost. WellPower’s Walk-In Crisis Center services are available regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. No one is turned away for financial reasons.
If you have insurance, it may be billed. If you do not, you can still receive crisis care.
Supporting a loved one in crisis
If someone you care about is in mental or emotional distress, you can:
- Encourage them to call or text 988
- Offer to go with them to the Walk-In Crisis Center
- Stay with them and help them feel safe while connecting to support
- Call 911 if there is immediate danger
You do not need to have all the answers. Helping someone connect to care can make a meaningful difference.
A message from WellPower
At WellPower, we believe crisis care should be accessible, compassionate and centered on dignity. Experiencing a mental health crisis does not define you and it does not mean you have failed. It means you are human and you deserve support.
If you are struggling right now, help is available today in Denver. Whether you start with a phone call, a text or walking through our doors, we are here to help you take the next step toward safety and stability.
If you need help now
- Call 911 for help with a medical emergency
- Call or text 988 for immediate mental or emotional support
- Get in-person, round-the-clock support at the WellPower Walk-In Crisis Center, open 24/7 at 4353 E. Colfax Ave.
- Learn more about WellPower Crisis Services
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