Mental Health & Crisis Resources

Anyone in Wyoming experiencing a suicidal crisis, mental health crisis, or emotional distress; no eligibility screening or documentation required.

Call or text 988, or use the chat function at 988lifeline.org, 24 hours a day. Calls are routed based on the phone's area code — a Wyoming resident with a 307 number reaches a Wyoming center from anywhere. If a Wyoming center can't answer, the call automatically routes to a national backup center. Live phone support is available in English and Spanish, with translation available in 250+ languages; text/chat support is English only. For Wyoming-specific text-based crisis support, text "WYO" to 741741. Always call 911 first for an immediate life-threatening emergency.

Call or text 988 (24/7); chat at 988lifeline.org; text "WYO" to 741741 for Wyoming-specific text crisis support; Wyoming Lifeline (307) 527-1113; Central Wyoming Counseling Center Lifeline (307) 237-9583

Free and confidential

Applies to any individual in Wyoming who a law enforcement officer or licensed examiner (psychiatrist, physician, APRN, PA, psychologist, counselor, social worker, or marriage/family therapist) reasonably believes is mentally ill and a danger to self, a danger to others, or unable to meet basic needs.

Emergency detention is initiated by a law enforcement officer or examiner, not by a private petition — the person is taken to a hospital or suitable facility (never jail, except in extreme emergency). A preliminary assessment must occur within 24 hours; if the person is found mentally ill and dangerous, detention continues up to 72 hours pending a preliminary court hearing. If continued detention or hospitalization is sought, the court (in the county where the person is detained) appoints an attorney if the person doesn't have one. If the court finds the person mentally ill, it can order continued detention up to 10 days, and full involuntary hospitalization proceedings follow under Wyo. Stat. 25-10-110, including a court-appointed examiner's assessment within 7 days and a hearing. The county covers transportation, treatment, and attorney costs for Wyoming residents for the first 72 hours; WDH covers costs for non-residents.

Wyoming Department of Health Behavioral Health Division: (307) 777-6494 or toll-free (800) 535-4006; Substance Abuse & Mental Health Ombudsman: (888) 857-1942. Always call 911 for an immediate emergency.

Per Wyoming Statute 25-10-112, the county where the person is detained (or, for non-residents, the Wyoming Department of Health) is responsible for the costs of the first 72 hours of emergency detention, related medical treatment, and legal proceedings (including appointed counsel and examiners) — not the family. If continued or extended detention is later ordered, the Department of Health becomes responsible for those additional costs. Before billing the county or state, the treatment provider must first attempt to recover costs from the patient's own health insurance or government benefit programs (VA, Indian Health Service, Medicaid, etc.). Families are not directly billed under the statute, though the detained person's own insurance may be billed first.

Wyoming residents and their families navigating mental health or substance use treatment systems, including those involved in involuntary commitment proceedings.

Call the toll-free Ombudsman line at (888) 857-1942 (Monday-Friday, 9 AM-5 PM) to describe your situation; services are free and statewide. The Ombudsman provides information, referral, coaching, and advocacy for people with substance use or mental health concerns. No published intake form or documented first-call procedure was found — expect an informal phone conversation with a program staff member rather than a formal application.

(888) 857-1942 (toll-free); also listed at (307) 638-5519; wyoguardianship.org/samhop

Free

Individuals with disabilities in Wyoming, including mental illness, intellectual/developmental disability, and traumatic brain injury, and veterans with disabilities; specific program eligibility varies by funding stream (e.g., PAIMI program for mental illness).

P&A does not use a single centralized online intake form. Instead, each of its federal programs has its own dedicated phone line for general inquiries and a separate toll-free assistance line (e.g., Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities Program: 307-632-3496 / 800-624-7648; Mental Illness Program: 307-635-7817 / 800-654-7972; Client Assistance Program: 307-638-7668 / 800-821-3091; Individual Rights Program: 307-632-3497 / 800-632-3491). Requests can be made by phone, walk-in, or referral, and there is no fee for services. Contacting P&A does not create an attorney-client relationship, and case acceptance depends on the program's current priorities and available resources.

7344 Stockman St, Cheyenne, WY 82009. Phone: (307) 632-3496; Toll-free/TDD: (800) 821-3091; Fax: (307) 638-0815; Office hours 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Monday-Friday (closed noon hour)

Free; contacting P&A does not create an attorney-client relationship until formally established

Anyone seeking to petition for guardianship (care/custody decisions) or conservatorship (financial/property decisions) over an adult who is incapacitated due to advanced age, disability, disease, substance use, mental illness, or intellectual disability; the proposed ward generally must have lived in Wyoming for the prior six consecutive months, or otherwise have an appropriate connection to the state.

Review the FAQs to determine whether guardianship, conservatorship, or a less-restrictive alternative (like a durable power of attorney) fits the situation. Download the self-help packet, including the Petition for Appointment of Guardian for an Adult, Civil Cover Sheet, Notice of Hearing, Summons, Consent/Nomination of Guardian, and Guardian's Report forms. File the petition in the District Court of the county where the proposed ward lives; the court will appoint a Guardian Ad Litem and require notice to the proposed ward, spouse, parents, and adult children. Attend the hearing prepared with medical/social service records and witness testimony; if granted, the guardian must file status reports every six months. Wyoming's Court Navigator program (currently Natrona and Uinta counties) can help self-represented filers with certain forms.

Wyoming Supreme Court / State Law Library: (307) 777-7509; Court Administration: (307) 777-7687; use the Find a Court tool at wyocourts.gov/find-a-court to locate the relevant District Court

Self-help forms are free; court filing fees apply (amount varies by county); low-income filers may qualify for a fee waiver or legal aid through Equal Justice Wyoming

Open to any Wyoming resident living with a mental health condition or supporting a family member/friend who is; no diagnosis documentation or cost required to attend support groups.

Visit the Resources section for guidance on topics like "Family Member Arrested" and "Petitions for Treatment," or check the Calendar for upcoming NAMI Connection (peer) and NAMI Family Support Group meetings, held both in-person and online. Call or text the office to ask about current groups, education classes (e.g., NAMI Family-to-Family, NAMI Basics), or advocacy questions. No referral is needed to attend a support group or request information.

NAMI Wyoming, PO Box 1883, Casper, WY 82602. Phone/text: (307) 265-2573. National NAMI HelpLine: (800) 950-6264. If in crisis, call or text 988; if calling 911, ask for a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Officer.

Free