Santa Cruz County has launched a new community helpline to provide 24-hour mental health services.
The Mobile Crisis Response Team started in mid-December. It uses teams of mental health professionals to respond to psychiatric emergencies throughout the county, offering on-site evaluation and care. The initiative, available in English and Spanish, is a partnership between the County of Santa Cruz Health Services Agency and the Family Service Agency of the Central Coast.
Residents can access the service by calling 800-952-2335 to speak with a trained mental health professional over the phone. If deemed necessary, a response team then travels to the site of the crisis for an in-person evaluation. The team can also connect people with community-based resources and services.
“This approach also helps reduce the number of emergency room visits and law enforcement interventions,” Karen Kern, deputy director of Santa Cruz County Behavioral Health, said in a news release.
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