Inside STAT: Mobile mental health crisis teams see a surge of interest

(MOLLY FERGUSON FOR STAT)

In the wake of nationwide demonstrations against police brutality, there has been a surge of interest in making sure mental health providers, not law enforcement personnel, are the ones who respond to a psychiatric crisis. Mobile crisis units deploy trained professionals to respond to people experiencing a mental health crisis with compassion and clinical expertise. Longtime mental health workers say the model offers a safer, more compassionate way to help those in crisis — and can prevent needlessly violent and traumatic encounters in the process. But their insights may sit uncomfortably with some advocates: To work effectively outside the law enforcement system, you still need to have one foot on the inside. STAT’s Juliet Isselbacher explains.