Crisis Teams

Key Features of Crisis Response Teams:

• Rapid Response: Teams are available 24/7 or during extended hours to respond quickly to behavioral health emergencies in homes, schools, public spaces, or other community settings.
• Multidisciplinary Team Members: Typically include licensed mental health clinicians, case managers, peer support specialists (individuals with lived experience), and sometimes nurses or prescribers.
• De-escalation and Stabilization: Team members are trained in trauma-informed care and crisis intervention techniques to calm the situation and ensure the safety of all involved.
• Assessment and Triage: They conduct on-the-spot evaluations to determine the individual’s mental health needs and the most appropriate level of care.
• Connection to Services: After stabilizing the crisis, teams link individuals to follow-up care such as outpatient therapy, medication management, detox services, housing support, or inpatient treatment if needed.
• Alternatives to Police Involvement: These teams reduce reliance on law enforcement and emergency departments by providing a health-centered response to behavioral health crises.

Impact on Communities:

• Reduces unnecessary hospitalizations and incarceration
• Promotes timely access to care
• Builds trust in the behavioral health system
• Supports recovery and reduces repeat crises

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