Los Altos, North County Get Dedicated Mobile Crisis Response Team

LOS ALTOS, CA — Santa Clara County will expand its Mobile Crisis Response Team program to North County and West Valley.

The program assists individuals having a mental health crisis. It attempts to de-escalate situations and promote alternatives to jails or emergency departments like counseling, a sobering center, respite program or mediation through a crisis stabilization unit.

The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to add a response team for North County and West Valley areas: Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Palo Alto, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Mountain View, Cupertino, Saratoga and portions of San Jose. Previously, only the South County area had a dedicated team.

“Regrettably, the need for this expanded service is undeniable; and creating this West Valley-North County operation will also take some pressure off other parts of the County,” said Supervisor Joe Simitian, who introduced the resolution.

The need appears to be growing. The number of residents accessing the county’s behavioral health system has increased by 13 percent during the pandemic, according to Simitian’s office. Visits with the response team also increased from 414 to 1,838, and calls have gone up nearly five-fold from 1,072 to 5,100.

“Having these teams in place will mean faster deployment, and response time is crucial for someone in the midst of a mental health crisis,” said Sherri Terao, the county’s Behavioral Health Services Director. “A caring, compassionate response delivered rapidly lets an individual know that they are valued, that they are being taken seriously, and that we want to help.”

To reach the Mobile Crisis Response Team, call 1-800-704-0900. Staff are available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays. A clinician is also available 24/7 at the same number.

Click here for more information on the response team.