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If you may be in danger, call or text 988. Call 911 for emergencies.

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District of Columbia

Depression resources in District of Columbia

Shariq Refai, MD, MBA, board-certified psychiatrist and the reviewer of this article.

Reviewed by Shariq Refai, MD, MBA·Updated March 15, 2026·About 5 minutes

State and regional lines here include DBH Access HelpLine and DC 211 Warmline. District of Columbia Department of Behavioral Health funds and oversees publicly funded mental health services in District of Columbia. 2 academic medical centers run psychiatry departments: Georgetown University Department of Psychiatry, George Washington University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Beyond 988, District of Columbia runs its own crisis line: DC Access HelpLine, 1-888-793-4357, 24/7. Hours and numbers change, so confirm with each organization before relying on them.

If this is a crisis

Call or text 988 anywhere in District of Columbia, any time. Press 2 for Spanish. TTY users dial 711, then 988. Veterans press 1. District of Columbia also runs its own line: DC Access HelpLine, 1-888-793-4357, 24/7. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.

Crisis and warm lines in District of Columbia

District of Columbia Department of Behavioral Health

Phone: 202-673-2246
Website: dbh.dc.gov

The District agency that funds and oversees publicly funded mental health services in Washington, DC.

NAMI peer helplines in District of Columbia

NAMI's helpline directory (updated August 24, 2026) has no District of Columbia listing yet. Local support groups are at nami.org/find-your-local-nami.

Programs and agencies in District of Columbia

Crisis care and mobile crisis

State behavioral health agencies

Community mental health centers

NAMI state organization

Source: AnxietyResource.org, District of Columbia.

DC Medicaid Behavioral Health

DC Medicaid Behavioral Health covers behavioral health care for eligible District of Columbia residents. Use its provider search to find in-network therapists and psychiatrists.

Academic psychiatry in District of Columbia

Telepsychiatry in District of Columbia

A clinician who treats you by video has to hold a District of Columbia license, because licensing follows where you are during the visit. Practices to compare and prescribing rules are on the state resources overview.

Frequently asked questions

What crisis and warm lines does District of Columbia have besides 988?
DBH Access HelpLine (1-888-793-4357); DC 211 Warmline ((202) 463-6211). Warm lines are for talking things through when you're not in immediate danger. In a crisis, call or text 988 or call 911.

Also useful in District of Columbia

Last reviewed September 23, 2026. Cite as: Refai, S. (2026, September 23). Depression resources in District of Columbia. DepressionResource.org. https://depressionresource.org/state-resources/district-of-columbia/

Every clinical page on DepressionResource.org is written in plain language, dated, and reviewed by a board-certified psychiatrist against current clinical guidelines. See our editorial standards and medical review process.