Mobile Crisis Team Available Weekends

On Dec. 12, Santa Cruz County Behavioral Health announced that Mobile Crisis Response Teams are now available 24/7/365 to respond to behavioral health crises for youth and adults across Santa Cruz County, including the cities of Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Scotts Valley, Capitola, and all unincorporated areas.

Yes, that means weekends.

The expanded hours “bring Santa Cruz County in line with a state mandate and our Crisis Now Innovation Project,” Health Services spokeswoman Sandra Hughes said.

“Our services are supported in part by the C.R.I.S.E.S. grant (staffing) and Crisis Care Mobile Units (CCMU) grant (infrastructure),” she added.

The Mobile Crisis Response Team helps remove barriers to crisis support access by meeting individuals where they are — whether that’s a park, school, or other safe location, including faith-based sites.

When a community member calls for the 24-hour Access Line, trained crisis call takers will assess the situation to determine if an individual is undergoing a behavioral health crisis.

If appropriate, a team is dispatched to provide on-site evaluation and intervention.

Once the immediate crisis is stabilized, the team will connect individuals with services and community-based resources.

“Our Mobile Crisis Response Team is staffed with compassionate mental health professionals who understand the diverse needs of our Santa Cruz County community,” said Karen Kern, deputy director of Santa Cruz County Behavioral Health. “With culturally responsive, bilingual services, our goal is to provide timely and empathetic support during crises, helping individuals feel safe and empowered to continue their care journey. This approach also helps reduce the number of emergency room visits and law enforcement interventions.”

James Russell, director of access and crisis services of Santa Cruz County Behavioral Health, added, “Our partnership with Family Service Agency of the Central Coast has been instrumental in allowing us to swiftly respond and de-escalate mental health crises on a 24/7 basis.”

For information about the Santa Cruz County Mobile Crisis Response Team, see www.santacruzhealth.org/CrisisResponse or call 1-800-952-2335.

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If you or someone you love is struggling with thoughts of suicide, reach out for help. You are not alone. Call or text 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Trained counselors are available 24/7 to provide free and confidential support.