San Mateo County residents in the throes of a mental health crisis now have a new lifeline. A unanimous vote by the Board of Supervisors secured a $5 million contract with Telecare Corp, in partnership with local nonprofit StarVista, to deploy mobile crisis response teams, pointedly trained in de-escalation and connecting individuals to necessary services. People can dial 650-573-0350 when encountering a mental health emergency, as detailed in an official announcement from the county.
Steering clear of the traditional armed law enforcement approach, the county aims to calm situations with specialized teams arriving in inconspicuous vehicles — a stark change for the area's emergency response. Supervisor Noelia Corzo backed a study session last December on such non-armed responses, saying, "This alternative response model is another huge step in making sure community members get the appropriate, person-centered response when and where they need it." The teams will be operational all year round, responding to calls screened for necessities such as crisis assessment and intervention.
In what represents a significant shift in approach, these teams serve as a fresh and compassionate strategy for assisting individuals with mental or behavioral health issues. "This is a compassionate approach to assist individuals with mental or behavioral health issues who should be handled with care by trained clinicians," Supervisor David J. Canepa, who, alongside Corzo, brought the contract to the Board, explained the intention behind the move.
Such a system aligns with the growing national conversation on mental health crisis management and the need to productively address emergencies without relying on law enforcement, which often is not trained for these specific scenarios. With nearly 15 percent of all 911 calls related to behavioral health crises, per a 2021 study in "Psychiatric Services," this innovation could set a precedent that other jurisdictions may follow. "This is 24/7 unarmed response meant to keep individuals in crisis who are not a danger to themselves or others out of our emergency rooms and jails," Canepa commented on the broader impact of the initiative.
Dr. Jei Africa, Director of Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, conveyed optimism about the imminent expansion of community support capabilities, remarking that the new teams will greatly reduce the burden on other county response systems and prevent unnecessary visits to the ER and interactions with the criminal justice system. The service will progressively become fully operational by August, ultimately comprising five 24/7 teams and two additional on-call teams.
The county is planning an extensive outreach campaign to ensure awareness about the new hotline and service. Expectations are set for response times to stay within 60 minutes for central county areas and 90 minutes for those further afield on the coastside regions.
