Santa Cruz County has launched a new community helpline to provide 24-hour mental health services.
The Mobile Crisis Response Team started in mid-December. It uses teams of mental health professionals to respond to psychiatric emergencies throughout the county, offering on-site evaluation and care. The initiative, available in English and Spanish, is a partnership between the County of Santa Cruz Health Services Agency and the Family Service Agency of the Central Coast.
Residents can access the service by calling 800-952-2335 to speak with a trained mental health professional over the phone. If deemed necessary, a response team then travels to the site of the crisis for an in-person evaluation. The team can also connect people with community-based resources and services…