When mental health crises require more than a phone conversation, these mobile units come to help

[Nevilledog]

Link to tweet

Tweet text:

Abraham Gutman
@abgutman
·
Follow
A young man is in a mental health crisis. He attacked his grandmother.

Instead of police, a mobile crisis unit arrives.

No sirens or flashing lights — and no guns.

The counselors only talk. He agrees to get a psych eval.

Alternative response in action.

inquirer.com
When mental health crises require more than a phone conversation, these mobile units come to help
Most calls to crisis lines are resolved on the phone. But when a call needs an in-person response, a mobile crisis unit often swings into action. The alternative, some fear, is relying on police.
3:03 AM · Sep 30, 2022

https://www.inquirer.com/health/mental-health-crisis-mobile-units-988-police-20220930.html

No paywall
https://archive.ph/GAIHZ

A grandmother calls a mental health crisis line for help after her grandson with intellectual disabilities and a history of mental illness attacked her.

The crisis can’t be resolved over the phone. A mobile crisis unit swings into action.

Crisis counselor Cedric McNear gathers paperwork and looks up the address. His colleague, Teralynn Turner, reaches out to the grandmother for more information. Along with two other mental health professionals, they rush into a white van.

Their mission is to diffuse a mental health crisis. They don’t have sirens or flashing lights. Unlike police, they don’t have handcuffs and guns.

“Come on, let’s go help some people,” McNear tells the team, every time, as they head out.

In July, a three-digit national mental health hotline launched to make it easier to get help in a mental health crisis. Eventually, it will replace a harder to remember 10-digit number known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The line, 988, has already seen an increase in use — including in Philadelphia — and most calls are resolved on the phone. But when a call needs an in-person response, a mobile crisis unit often responds.

*snip*