City partners deploy mobile crisis response for behavioral health emergencies
A multi-agency partnership between Bartlett Regional Hospital (BRH), Capital City Fire & Rescue (CCFR), and the Juneau Police Department (JPD) has been established to ensure people in Juneau experiencing a behavioral health crisis get the right care, in the right setting, when they need it.
A mobile crisis team, composed of a CCFR paramedic and a BRH clinician, is now available 7 days a week from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. to respond to individuals in crisis anywhere someone needs help, including at home, school, work, or any other community-based setting. Juneau police/fire dispatch coordinates the mobile crisis team’s response when calls are received from the public, responders, or through 988. The team provides rapid response, individual assessment, community-based stabilization, follow-up, and coordination with other services and supports.
“By partnering with Bartlett Regional Hospital and the Juneau Police Department, we can provide timely, compassionate care to individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis,” said Rich Etheridge, CCFR’s Fire Chief. “This initiative ensures that people in need receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time, while also reducing the strain on emergency rooms and law enforcement. It’s a collaborative effort that reflects our shared commitment to the well-being of Juneau’s residents.”
The phased rollout of mobile crisis response began on November 25th with BRH clinicians initially joining CCFR’s Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH) paramedic team and JPD officers on calls and making connections with community members out in the field. With the next phase of incorporating Juneau police/fire dispatch now complete, the mobile crisis team is ready to expand their response efforts in the community.
“When situations occur involving people in a behavioral health crisis, having dispatchers transfer callers to 988 or assigning calls for service to the mobile crisis team will reduce unnecessary law enforcement involvement,” said Derek Bos, Chief of Police. “The Juneau mobile crisis team will provide resources to people specific to their behavioral health needs. We are pleased to be part of this solution in getting the right responders to the right call.”
Mobile crisis services are a community-based intervention to provide de-escalation and relief to individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis. The mobile crisis team is one of the three components of the Crisis Now model used in communities to help prevent suicide, reduce the inappropriate use of emergency rooms and correctional settings, and to provide the best supports for individuals in crisis.
“When the difficult decision was made to close the hospital’s crisis stabilization unit, we quickly pivoted to evaluating alternate service models because we knew there was still a great need in the community for crisis services,” said Kim McDowell, BRH’s Chief Operating & Nursing Officer. “Mobile crisis can provide timely access to crisis services and keep individuals in behavioral health crisis out of inappropriate care settings.”
Individuals in a behavioral health crisis should call or text 988 to be connected to a counselor. Counselors are available 24/7 and will coordinate with local dispatch in Juneau as needed to deploy the mobile crisis team. Juneau police/fire dispatch will also coordinate calls to 911 for behavioral health emergencies.