Editorial: Marin crisis unit proving to be best choice in many cases

911 is a number to call in an emergency or a crisis. It promises to bring firefighters, paramedics and police as quickly as they can respond.

But those lifesaving first responders are not always what the call warrants.

That’s where the county’s Mobile Crisis Response Team comes in.

The unit, now in its eighth year, is trained and ready to respond to calls where police officers and fire department personnel may not be the right remedy.

It’s for people who may not need a ride to a hospital emergency room or don’t deserve to go to jail. Sometimes callers just need someone to talk to; someone who can help them get past their crisis.

As unit supervisor Kellianne Martinez put it, “It’s just about having that conversation of, ‘What do you need? What is going on?’”

Importantly, the team works closely with police and fire responders. There are many times they are the right and necessary response.

The team of mental health professionals is there to treat the causes, to help address the issues and treat the problems that led to the 911 call.

Team leaders say the mobile unit has reduced the number of cases that would have otherwise wound up admitted to the county’s mental health crisis center, hospital emergency rooms and, possibly, jail.

This year, the team has answered nearly 2,500 calls from across the county.

That’s proof enough that they are serving a real and important community need.

It’s a smarter way to respond to those cries for help. It’s not only possibly more effective, but less costly than sending teams of firefighters, paramedics and squad cars to such calls. They include those that are nonviolent, not crime related, life-threatening or requiring medical attention.

At times, people panic and call 911 because they are at a loss for where to find help.

In many of those cases, fire and police who initially respond  call on the unit to  assist them in addressing the caller’s problem.

While police can respond to emergencies, providing ongoing contact and connecting callers to long-term help is the vital role the mobile mental health crisis unit provides.

In addition, police and fire departments are not equipped to provide longer-term intervention needed to help those with serious mental health challenges. The mobile crisis team can provide short-term care and support while connecting clients to the help they need.

Unit members help reduce barriers, from mental health challenges to laundry services.

They can provide the human services needed to help someone not have to resort to calling 911 again.

Sometimes, the assistance of a trained mental health professional is the right answer to a crisis situation.

Given the number of calls the unit responds to and praise from other first-responders, the mobile unit fills an important need, providing the right help when it is needed the most.