DMHAS DHOH Emergency Services

A person with disabilities who needs Deaf, Deafblind, Hard of Hearing (DHOH) services can contact several resources when in a crisis.

9-8-8 Lifeline is a network of local crisis centers providing free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Lifeline crisis counselors provide support regardless of whether a caller discloses their condition or chooses not to.

Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by:

• Dialing 9-8-8
• Texting 9-8-8 Videophone
• Website: https://988lifeline.org/
• Website: https://988lifeline.org/help-yourself/for-deaf-hard-of-hearing/

Crisis Text Line, DHOH Mental Health Hotlineprovides free, 24/7, high-quality text-based mental health support and crisis intervention through a community of trained volunteers who can support people in their moments of need.

To Contact the DHOH HOTLINE for mental health services: 

1. Text the word "Deaf" to 741-741
2. Wait for a response.
3. The first two responses are automated while you are being connected to a Crisis Counselor.  DHOH Mental Health Hotline Crisis Counselors are trained volunteers who can provide support. They cannot provide medical advice.

Website: crisistextline.org

Text-to-9-1-1 is available in Connecticut for persons with disabilities who need emergency services and use DHOH services or have a speech disability. 

Website: https://www.text911ct.org/

Other Emergency and Disaster Information Resources:

• Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security DHOH resources

  https://portal.ct.gov/DEMHS/Emergency-Management/Resources-For-Individuals/Resources-for-the-Deaf-and-Hard-of-Hearing

• SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline Videophone for American Sign Language Users (DDH) is a 24/7, year-round, confidential, multi-lingual crisis counseling and emotional support resource for survivors, responders, and anyone in the U.S./territories struggling with distress or other mental health concerns related to any natural or human-caused disaster. Calls and texts are answered by trained counselors from a network of independently operated crisis centers located across the country.

  Callers who use American Sign Language (ASL) can connect directly to an agent in ASL by texting or calling 1-800-985-5990 from a videophone or going to:  https://vibrant.aslnow.io/app/8/10004

  Website: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline/asl-faq

• United States Department of Homeland Security provides resources for people with Disabilities. Website: https://www.ready.gov/disability

This page was prepared by William Pierce, ADA Title II Coordinator (William.Pierce@ct.gov) Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Office of the Commissioner, 860-418-7000 (TTY Relay 711)

ACA Notice: DMHAS and other federally funded healthcare providers complies with federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Section 1557).

DMHAS DHOH Crisis and Emergency Services Revised 12/2023

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