The Mobile Crisis Support Team (MCST) responds to crisis and non-crisis referrals from the community, law enforcement (LE), inter-agency behavioral health units (like the BHS Warm-Line), cross-agency partners, families, and the Collaborative Court system. Non-crisis referrals are made for individuals who are at risk of becoming acute or escalating into a mental health crisis situation. MCSTs are teams of two that consist of a clinician and a mental health outreach worker. As of February 2022, there are four MCST teams that serve all of San Joaquin County.
MCSTs also respond to LE requests for clinicians to meet them on active calls to conduct field evaluations. LE jurisdictions who are trained in behavioral health interventions respond jointly with MCSTs on referrals for individuals who are demonstrating signs and symptoms of mental distress who may also pose a safety threat to the community or themselves. Individuals are often identified in homeless encampments and homeless shelters.
The program has operated Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. since 2014 and plans to expand its hours and the number of teams. The BHS 24 Hour Services Unit’s Community Crisis Response Team (CCRT) responds to after hours and weekend crisis calls.
Objectives of non-crisis MCST response are to stabilize individuals and prevent them from escalating into a crisis. Objectives of crisis MCST calls are to prevent the individual from harming themself or others and if possible, deescalate them to a lower acuity. If this cannot be done and the individual will not pose a safety risk to the team, they are transported to the BHS Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) or the nearest emergency room. If the individual is a danger to themselves or others, LE is called for assistance with transportation to the nearest hospital, CSU, or jail.