To bolster mental health support within San Diego County, Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer and the county's Behavioral Health experts have shone a spotlight on the success of their innovative Mobile Crisis Response Teams (MCRT), a program that they've championed since its initiation in 2021, delivering healthcare directly to those in distress.
With the teams composed of a mental health clinician, a peer support specialist, and a case manager, such services have become crucial in addressing mental health crises while also serving as preventative measures for various complicating life circumstances, including homelessness, a concern particularly underscored by Supervisor Lawson-Remer, who has advocated for clearing encampments and offering shelter in more stable environments, teams have attended to over 13,000 calls according to details shared in a press conference as reported by Supervisor Lawson-Remer's website.
Statistics show the broad scope of individuals who benefited from the MCRT—with 12% being underage, 16% seniors over 60, roughly three-quarters living independently, and approximately one-fifth without a home, as highlighted by Dr. Luke Bergmann, the County's Behavioral Health Services Director "It's about making behavioral health care and response a normal part of our clinical continuum, and as accessible, or more accessible, than healthcare for any physical illness or injury”, he emphasized in the information released by the County.
Performance metrics of the MCRT program offer a promising insight: 20% of interventions have taken place in the North Coastal region, brandishing an impressive 17-minute response time, while a significant majority of cases, over 80%, are diverted from hospitals, dealing with over 50% of incidents without the need for further transportation underpinning the effectiveness of field resolutions provided by teams as emphasized by service provider Telecare whose representatives shared success stories and gave media tours of their emergency response vehicles; about 28% of cases were linked to Crisis Stabilization Units, details affirmed by supervisors and shared at the press event.
For those in need of mental health crisis intervention in San Diego County, the MCRT can be reached by dialing 9-8-8, ensuring immediate access to support services for residents across the region around the clock.
