How to Get 24/7 Emergency Assistance During a Crisis
Pictured Above: Starting Point’s Mobile Response Team
Mental health and substance use emergencies happen around the clock. Oftentimes, when individuals experience a behavioral health emergency, they turn to law enforcement, hospital emergency departments, and inpatient treatment for help. While it is always important to involve law enforcement when you or someone you know is experiencing a life-threatening emergency, Starting Point’s Mobile Response Team (MRT) may be better suited to assist individuals experiencing a crisis related to mental health or substance use disorders.
In this post, we will help you understand the Mobile Response Team, the types of emergencies they are equipped to respond to, the ways to get in touch with the MRT, and how the process works from start to finish. We also provide an easy-to-follow infographic that you can download and take with you.
What is the Mobile Response Team?
As a nonprofit behavioral healthcare organization, we understand the importance of solving problems as a community. We are partnered with the Fernandina Beach Police Department, the Nassau County School District, and the Nassau County Sherriff’s Office to provide readily available crisis care for individuals who are experiencing a behavioral health emergency. Our goal is to stabilize the individual(s) in crisis to avoid the need for jail or hospital/emergency department utilization.
The Mobile Response Team assesses and treats children, adolescents, and young adults ages 25 and under in Nassau County, FL who are experiencing a behavioral health crisis. We provide on-demand crisis intervention services to stabilize individuals wherever the crisis is occurring. Starting Point’s Mobile Response Team is available to assist 24/7. MRT services include evaluation and assessment, development of safety, crisis or care plans, providing or facilitating stabilization services, crisis counseling, and referral to other services if necessary.
Who Does the Mobile Response Team Serve?
The Mobile Response Team serves residents of Nassau County, FL ages 25 and younger who are experiencing a behavioral health emergency.
When to Call the Mobile Response Team
You should call the MRT if you or someone you know is experiencing any of the following symptoms:
- Suicidal thoughts or behaviors
- Homicidal thoughts or behaviors
- Extreme behavioral challenges
- Alcohol abuse or overdose
- Psychotic episodes (hallucinations, delusional content, paranoia, etc.)
Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of symptoms. If you are unsure whether the presenting emergency qualifies for Mobile Response Team services, please call us anyway. Our designated on-call MRT First Responder will assess the situation and determine the appropriate course of action.
How to Contact the Mobile Response Team
Call (904) 580-0529 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
How the Mobile Response Team Works: Start to Finish
- Call the MRT line directly (904-580-0529) or call 911 (If 911: the 911 dispatcher will identify a behavioral health emergency and then connect the caller to the MRT).
- MRT dispatches mobile unit to the scene of the crisis.
- MRT arrives on-site (within 60 minutes) with law enforcement and conducts an assessment. A Starting Point licensed clinician determines if Baker Act or referral to other services is necessary. Our top priority is to keep the individual safe. The decision to Baker Act an individual is made by a licensed clinician and based on the individual’s safety and well-being.
- If the Baker Act is deemed unnecessary, the MRT will create a care plan and then follow up with the individual 2x daily for the next 72 hours to ensure the care plan is being followed.
- If the Baker Act was initiated, the MRT works with family members to determine the best follow-up care and follows up with the individual upon discharge from the Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU).
If you would like to learn more about Starting Point’s Mobile Response Team or are interested in partnership, please reach out to Starting Point’s MRT/Suicide Prevention lead, Kayla Woodle at kwoodle@spbh.org. Interested in working as part of the Mobile Response Team? Visit our careers page and view the available openings.
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