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About MHLAC Intake
The Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee provides comprehensive information and advice to individuals involved with the Massachusetts mental health system through the MHLAC Intake Line. To have a legal advocate contact you regarding an intake matter, you must call the MHLAC Intake Line and leave a voice mail message. We do not conduct intakes on a walk-in basis.
To request an MHLAC intake via email, click here.
Calling for Legal Help for You or Someone Else
You can leave a voicemail message 24 hours/7 days a week on the MHLAC Intake Line. Please note however that Intake Staff will return these calls during regular office hours, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
You can call the MHLAC Intake Line by dialing 617-338-2345, then press 4 or toll free 1-800-342-9092, then press 4. You will hear the following menu:
If you are a legislator or legislative staffer, courthouse employee, social or legal services provider, or consumer advocate, press 1.
If you are calling from a hospital emergency room or psychiatric unit, press 2.
If you are calling about a mental health related legal problem for yourself or someone else, press 3.
Be Prepared to Leave a Message:
When calling the Intake Line, you should be prepared to leave a message:
Give a brief description of the nature of the issue about which you are seeking information or advice.
Provide your name, address, telephone numbers, and, if you are contacting us about someone other than yourself, the name of that person and your relationship to him or her.
Due to high demand and limited resources, we can only respond to requests for help with certain legal matters. See below for our current case priorities. An Intake Advocate will contact callers on a first come first served basis. A phone interview will be conducted by an intake advocate at that time. Please note that we only provide assistance for problems or issues that pertain to Massachusetts. We cannot provide assistance to anonymous callers.
MHLAC provides information, pro se advice, materials and referrals. There are no income guidelines for advice only. Direct representation of persons with mental illness is offered on a limited basis. MHLAC provides representation for indigent clients only in civil matters only. Mental health of the client must be a primary factor in the current legal matter or relevant to the legal issue. Illness may be perceived and can be undiagnosed.
Intake Areas Covered
MHLAC may provide representation to people with, or perceived to have, a mental health condition and who have legal concerns in the following areas:
Mental Health Services
DMH Eligibility Denials Access to DMH’s Community Based Flex Supports (CBFS) services Access to MassHealth’s Children’s Behavioral Health Initiative (CBHI) services Access to mental health services for DYS involved youth
Education
Denial of appropriate educational services to youth under 22 years old confined in a DYS or DMH run facility, county jail, or prison Exclusion from school as a result of school disciplinary action or arrest, including the failure to provide adequate alternative education Discrimination in public schools due to mental health, including failure to provide minimally adequate curriculum and services Restraint and seclusion
Employment/Insurance
Discrimination in employment or workplace benefits Private Disability Insurance (Income Replacement) - Denial of or termination from Short- or Long-Term Disability Insurance benefits, where the disability is based on a mental condition -
Health Insurance - Denial of coverage for mental health services or out-of-network providers
Family Law
Jail and Bridgewater State Hospital
Medical Treatment Discrimination
Mental Health Facilities & Emergency Rooms
Residential
For a list of the above intake areas, click here.
Pro Se and Informational pamphlets are available on this website by going to the Resources tab. There you can access the Library page or the Useful Links.
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