Mental Health Services & Crisis

Ramsey County’s children’s mental health services help support and improve children's emotional well-being and development, their relationships with family and friends, and their ability to get along with others and function effectively at home, in school and in the community.

The mental health issues that children might experience include the following:

• Having difficult relationships with peers or adults.
• Controlling anger or aggression.
• Managing worries or other troubling thoughts or feelings.
• Being able to pay attention or focus.
• Feeling sad or worthless.
• Engaging in risky or self-injurious behavior.
• Coping with significant losses, traumas or other major life events and changes.

Ramsey County coordinates an extensive network of assessment, treatment and supportive services for children and teens with mental health needs. These services include:

24/7 crisis services

Contact our mobile crisis team by calling 651-266-7878.

Ramsey County’s mobile crisis team provides stabilization services, de-escalation, crisis intervention, mental health assessments and initial crisis plans.

Crisis services are available to all children in homes, schools or institutions in Ramsey County, regardless of the family’s ability to pay or type of insurance.

Case management phone line

Contact our case management team by calling 651-266-4486.

The case management phone line provides help for Ramsey County parent/guardians, community members, mental health workers and other professionals with: 

• General, non-crisis questions about children's mental health.
• Questions about CMH case management services.
• Accessing CMH case management services.
• Making a referral.
• Checking the status of a referral.

Case management

Case management services can be provided to children who have serious mental health needs.

Learn more about case management services  

Project Assist

Project Assist provides screening, assessment, intervention and arrangement of ongoing services for youth who have been identified with a mental health concern.

Learn more about Project Assist

All Children Excel

All Children Excel (ACE) is a program for youth under the age of 10 who would have been charged in a juvenile court if they were older. Children are referred to the program by Saint Paul and suburban police departments. 

Learn more about ACE

Partnership for Youth & Family Wellbeing

The Partnership for Youth & Family Wellbeing is for African American students who are experiencing academic crises.  An academic crisis can include things like skipping school, failing classes, frequent detentions, receiving suspensions, frequent visits to the office or a time-out area, receiving academic and other school services in the home or an alternative setting, transitioning back to school from residential treatment, etc.  

• Learn more about the Partnership for Youth and Family Wellbeing (PDF)
• Referral form (PDF)

We provide connections to services and resources that will put you on a path to healing. Contact us for help in crisis, to get an assessment, or to access ongoing mental health or chemical health services. 

24/7 Crisis services

If you or someone you know is in a mental health crisis, call the 24/7/365 crisis line at 651-266-7900.

Walk-in crisis services are available Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. at Urgent Care for Adult Mental Health.

The Detox Center is located in the 402 University Avenue East building. Staff can be reached at 651-266-4009.

Mental Health Center

Ramsey County’s Mental Health Center is located at 1919 University Ave. W., Suite 200, Saint Paul and offers short-term and on-going mental health services. The Mental Health Center is open Monday-Friday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., and closed weekends and county holidays.

Welcome Center

The Mental Health Center’s Welcome Center offers walk-in, short-term and referral services for individuals affected by mental illness or substance abuse issues. Staff provide intake services to help people access mental health and chemical addiction services provided by the county and other community organizations.

To make an appointment at the Welcome Center, call: 651-266-7890 (Walk-ins are welcome.). Email the Mental Health Center.

Ramsey County also provides the following on-going services at the Mental Health Center:

• Individual and group therapy.
• Psychiatry.
• Dual chemical and mental health programs. (CORe)
• Chemical health support for pregnant women and mothers.
• Outpatient services.
• Partial hospitalization (short-term intensive help for people who may otherwise be hospitalized).
• Supported employment to help people get meaningful jobs.
• Adult mental health case management referral (download a statement of need form (PDF) and fax it to 651-266-7989 or call 651-266-7890).

Fees

Service fees at the Mental Health Center are charged on a sliding scale based on family size and income.

View fee schedule (PDF)

The Chemical Health Unit provides drug and alcohol assessments for Ramsey County residents. The unit is an access point for state-licensed, chemical dependency services. After an initial assessment assessment, the Chemical Health Unit may refer people who are chemically dependent to a treatment (inpatient, outpatient, or group residential housing) or will connect them to other community programs. Assessments are completed by a variety of partners at locations throughout the community. Same day or next day appointments may be available.   

For more information, or to schedule an assessment call 651-266-4008.

The Ramsey County Detoxification Center staff helps individuals safely manage symptoms of intoxication or withdrawal for drugs and alcohol, while providing counseling and support services that treat the whole person, not just their substance use. The Detox Center is not a detention center, correctional facility or law enforcement center.

The Detox Center is located in the 402 University Avenue East building. Staff can be reached at 651-266-4009.