San Benito County launches Mobile Crisis Response Team

The San Benito County Behavioral Health Department recently announced the launch of its new community Mobile Crisis Response program, which aims to bring crisis management and support to residents wherever they are. 

The phone number for the Mobile Crisis Response Team is 831.902.2911. The line is open 24 hours a day and seven days a week, including holidays, according to the county.

People experiencing a mental health or substance use disorder can have a crisis anywhere at any time, and it can be difficult to know what to do, county behavioral health staff said. San Benito County’s Mobile Crisis Response Team is now available to help residents of all ages and bring more resources to the community.  

“San Benito County Behavioral Health is excited to launch our Mobile Crisis Response Team, bringing timely resources to our community to help during a mental health crisis,” said Dana Edgull, Director of SBC Behavioral Health. “We also hope this service will assist our local healthcare providers and law enforcement partners, as residents will receive care in their homes or wherever they may be, reducing the need to seek care at the emergency room and for law enforcement response.”

Callers to the crisis response phone line will first speak with a compassionate staff member from Suicide Prevention Service of the Central Coast who will help to de-escalate the situation over the phone, says a press release from San Benito County Behavioral Health. If the caller needs additional help, the Mobile Crisis Response Team will meet them where they are, at home or in the community, to ensure they get the help they need.  

SBC Behavioral Health is partnering with Pacific Clinics, a prominent mental health and substance use service provider, for this effort.

“We are proud to partner with San Benito County Behavioral Health to offer mobile crisis services and are deeply committed to providing high-quality services that meet the needs of this community,” said Pacific Clinics’ Crisis Clinical Director Laura Plottier-Ramirez.  

Pacific Clinics has extensive experience providing culturally responsive, trauma-informed services for individuals and families, and they are a leader in the mobile crisis response field, according to the county.

Once an individual is stable, the team will work with them and their support system to create a safety plan, refer them to mental health services based on their insurance provider and connect them to community resources, the county said. 

The SBC Behavioral Health Department provides comprehensive mental health and substance use disorder services for Medi-Cal beneficiaries and for individuals who do not have insurance. Individuals with private/commercial insurance will be referred to providers on their plan.

Call 831.902.2911 for any mental health crisis.