A mental health crisis can occur at any time and at any place – home, work, school, or any public space. In the past, a person in crisis had to be taken to a hospital or a behavioral health facility for care. Today, that help can come to them.
All it takes to initiate services is a call to Coleman’s Stark County Mobile Response Unit at 330-452-6000. This group is composed of licensed counselors who can arrive within minutes of receiving a request for assistance. With training in crisis intervention, and information and referral, these counselors are skilled in assisting with a wide range of issues, including:
- family arguments
- feelings of isolation
- substance use concerns
- dealing with stress
“You can think of it as a 9-1-1 call for mental health,” states Michelle Allison-Smith, Chief Officer of Coleman Crisis Services. She adds that in the event of a medical emergency, such as an overdose, suicide attempt, or violence, that 9-1-1 should be contacted.
Otherwise, there are no predetermined criteria for someone to qualify for Mobile Response Unit services. All situations are considered valid.
Coleman recognizes that youth and adults have different behavioral health needs. As a result, there are separate response teams with specialized, age-specific training to provide care to these two groups.
Youth Mobile Response Program
What makes the Youth Mobile Response Team special is its expertise in treating the behavioral health needs of preschool and school-age children. Whether at home, at school, or at a community setting, this team will coordinate a response with the caller to address the youth’s behavioral health concerns.
Adult Mobile Response Program
With broad experience in crisis intervention, the Adult Mobile Response Team is well-versed in evaluating adults for various emotional and mental health issues. No matter who has made the call—a friend, family member, co-worker, or caregiver, the team will collaborate with that caller to best address the needs of the person in crisis.
While it’s not directly a part of Coleman’s Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU), the Mobile Response Team serves as the gatekeeper to services at the CSU. This is how many clients initially access treatment there.
Formed in August 2018, the Mobile Response Units make an average of 100 assessments each month. Allison-Smith said that Coleman created these teams based on the findings from national research.
“Meeting a person that’s experiencing a crisis in their environment has a higher success rate as compared to coming into an office or center,” she explains. “Our Mobile Response Units in Stark County give area residents an additional choice.”