A psychological crisis is a type of response to a critical event or series of events. When usual methods of coping with the critical event have failed, the person is in distress, and a severe disturbance of mood or thinking threatens a person's safety, Mobile Crisis Team (MCT) professionals go to where the person is, conduct a clinical assessment, and provide the services needed to help the person effectively address the crisis situation.

For those most at risk for harm, MCT arranges admission to inpatient psychiatric services. For others who need supervised treatment and support, MCT arranges for admission to one of the community’s several crisis stabilization programs. For those who can remain at home, MCT crisis workers and psychiatrists provide initial and follow-up care. Upon resolution of the crisis situation, MCT links the person with community healthcare organizations that can provide the ongoing services that the person needs to minimize the likelihood of future crises.

Please note that this website does not function as a hotline, and you cannot obtain crisis services through the use of this site.

For those in other areas, call 9-1-1, your local emergency services number, or 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255), the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

Get the LifeLine's wallet-size card of suicide warning signs. Or, get the Spanish-language version.

During the 2007 fiscal year that ended 30 June 2007,

MCT served 9,042 adults and 1,137 children. Each day, an average of 37 new individuals call or are referred to MCT for services. Of those, about ten receive a face-to-face assessment and begin crisis intervention services, while those who had begun services earlier participate in follow-up crisis intervention services.

Crisis services are funded by Medicaid, private donations, and the Cuyahoga County Community Mental Health Board (CCCMHB). The CCCMHB is responsible for establishing a system of mental health services that includes crisis intervention. It conducts an annual audit and evaluation of our services.

Goals and objectives of MHS crisis services.

Primary goals of MHS crisis services are to help children and adults of Cuyahoga County who are experiencing a psychiatric crisis to maximize their safety and health, manage mental health symptoms, and reduce their subjective distress. To achieve these goals, the objectives of MHS crisis services are to:

1. operate Cuyahoga County's 24/7 Suicide Hotline and mental health information and referral service;
   
   
2. provide 24/7 mobile crisis assessment and crisis intervention services to children and adults experiencing a psychiatric crisis, at locations throughout Cuyahoga County;
   
   
3. conduct 24/7 crisis assessments at locations throughout Cuyahoga County, in order to assure the least-restrictive placement for those who may need psychiatric hospitalization or other structured treatment settings;
   
   
4. authorize admission of children to the inpatient, crisis shelter, and in-home services funded by the CCCMHB for families without health insurance;
   
   
5. authorize admission of adults to the inpatient services of Northcoast Behavioral Healthcare System (NBHS), North Campus;
   
   
6. authorize transfers of individuals from private hospital emergency departments to the Board-funded emergency services of the Columbia St. Vincent Charity Hospital Psychiatric Emergency Room (PER);
   
   
7. coordinate the utilization of other CCCMHB-funded crisis and emergency services;
   
   
8. link new clients with Board-funded counseling and community psychiatric supportive treatment services; and
   
   
9. collaborate with the CCCMHB and the community's healthcare and social service organizations to implement the County’s suicide prevention plan, and the State's mental health recovery plan.