Memphis Crisis Center

The MCC is a 24/7 crisis line service covering a range of issues (e.g. mental health, poverty, family violence, suicidal risk). We eliminate barriers by providing a safe & confidential point of entry for support and crisis de-escalation. The purpose is to ensure safety & empower a transition out of crisis into greater stability and long-term success. Volunteer service provision & strong community partnerships are central to our community approach to mental health and social service.

The mission of the Memphis Crisis Center (MCC) is to serve as a compassionate lifeline for anyone in distress. As a 24/7 crisis line service, our trained volunteers use client-centered, evidence-based methods of engagement to move callers from moments of pain or life-threatening desperation to greater calm and solution-focused reflection and action. We are aligned with community needs through a training process that reflects trends in caller data and the stated needs of community partners. Those in crisis or in need of emotional or informational support call our 24/7 volunteer-powered crisis lines for immediate, confidential, one-on-one help. This includes our specialty services such as the Call4Kids Hotline, The HIV Care Line, the Elder Lifeline, National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and the National Veterans’ Hotline. We meet callers at the point of need. Using client-centered evidence-based intervention, our trained crisis line workers: 1) PROVIDE HELP by engaging callers in collaborative problem-solving and encouraging linkage to needed community services; 2) BUILD HOPE by establishing immediate emotional support and mobilizing callers’ coping skills and social resources in ways that empower and facilitate change; and 3) SAVE LIVES by de-escalating dangerous crisis situations, engaging safety planning, and linking troubled individuals into professional systems of care. The MCC directly engages COMMUNITY INVOLVMENT through volunteer recruitment, training, and service provision and by providing community workshops to churches, non-profit agencies, police departments, professional conferences, and community organizations. This community focus is also facilitated through partnerships with local service providers and peer and network organizations, such as the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, and CONTACT USA. These networks successfully link our local work with both state and national efforts.