Mental health crises do not always occur at convenient times of day. These types of emergencies can happen at any time, day or night and Wasatch Mental Health is able to help.

The Mobile Crisis Outreach Team, or MCOT, is available 24 hours a day to ensure that people get the help they need, whenever and wherever they need it. Recent additional funding is enabling the expansion of the team to more communities in Utah County.

The MCOT offers consultation and support to resolve crises as well as follow-up services and support. According to Kip Landon, program manager, Wasatch Mental Health has always operated a 24-hour crisis line at 801-373-7393. The MCOT can bring a personal presence when needed.

“The ability to increase crisis services in the community with a face to face presence is very appealing. We realize that mental health crises do not always happen from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,” he said. “Our community is growing and really needs access to face-to-face crisis mental health services during night, weekend and holiday hours also.”

Landon said that many of these crises do not require emergency room visits and they can be adequately assisted with trained mental health staff.

One example is an individual who was paranoid, delusional and declining rapidly in physical and mental health. Several outreach efforts were made by the Provo Police Department and Wasatch Mental Health. Through this outreach, a trust was formed and the individual was able to get help from a skilled nursing facility. She has now remained stable for two years.

Situations that require the MCOT vary, but the team’s primary goal is to assist with law enforcement and EMS on-scene when an individual or family needs immediate mental health services. Some of these situations could be those struggling with suicide ideation or a suicide attempt, someone with psychosis or altered mental status and individuals experiencing a significant adjustment or phase of life problems and are not able to manage alone.

The team is comprised of licensed social workers, mental health therapists and peer support specialists. The peer support specialists are those who have experience with mental illness and recovery and possess the ability to remain stable. These specialists can use their life stories and experiences to support and assist those who are struggling, Landon said. The therapists and peer supports will respond as a team to calls in the community through the MCOT program.

The additional funding that the MCOT has received comes from a partnership between state and local government, according to Juergen Korbanka, Wasatch Mental Health executive director. While the state is funding the majority of it, Utah County will match a portion of it.

“I think the expansion of our ability to respond to mental health emergencies in the community with a mobile crisis team will enhance our ability to triage mental health emergencies,” Korbanka said. “We hope that this will further facilitate access to much-needed behavioral health services and contribute to our suicide prevention efforts.”