Mobile crisis teams take over mental health calls
San Diego County now wants the public to call 888-7247240 if they or someone they know is experiencing a mental health crisis and a mobile crisis response team (MCRT) will be dispatched instead of law enforcement.
With people accustomed to calling 911 for these types of incidents, the county has been working over the past year to give all law enforcement agencies the ability to refer those calls to MCRTs.
All 10 police departments, as well as the San Diego County Sheriff ’s Department, can now do that, county officials announced Thursday.
“Our efforts around mobile crisis response are designed to alleviate the burden on law enforcement, freeing them up to keep us safe and provide these individuals with the right care. But in order to do that, we need their help and cooperation,” said county Supervisor Nathan Fletcher.
Police respond to tens of thousands of calls related to mental health. Critics have argued against law enforcement responding to these situations, saying officers are more likely to escalate mental health emergencies than provide necessary care.
In response, the county launched its $10 million pilot program early last year, with the first mobile crisis response team working in North County. Teams expanded their service to South County in June and by December, they worked countywide. Today, there are 16 teams that have responded to 1,277 calls. About half resulted in individuals treated and stabilized on-site and about 22 percent were transported to a crisis stabilization unit, according to the county.
Of the total calls received, most of them, or 78 percent, came directly from the county Access and Crisis line (888-7247240) because only Chula Vista and National City police departments were referring calls to MCRTs. Now, all 11 agencies are participating after signing a memorandum of agreement with the county.
The countywide effort comes as the nation prepares to launch this summer 988 as the new National Suicide Prevention dialing code. Come July 16, the Federal Communications Commission will establish 988, where calls to the line will be redirected to the current 1-800-273-8255. County officials said 988 will be just another resource like 911.