mobile crisis team
A specialized emergency response unit that provides on-site psychiatric crisis intervention in community settings rather than hospital emergency departments.
Full Definition
A mobile crisis team is a multidisciplinary group of mental health professionals who respond directly to psychiatric emergencies in community locations such as homes, schools, or public spaces. These teams typically include licensed clinicians, peer specialists, and sometimes law enforcement personnel trained in crisis intervention techniques. Their goal is to provide immediate assessment, de-escalation, safety planning, and disposition services while avoiding unnecessary emergency department visits and hospitalizations through on-scene intervention and linkage to community resources.
Usage
Usage note: Distinguish from hospital-based crisis teams by emphasizing the 'mobile' or community-response aspect.
In Context
- "The mobile crisis team responded to the school within 45 minutes and successfully de-escalated the situation without requiring hospitalization." — Crisis services incident report
- "Collaboration between the mobile crisis team and emergency medical services reduced psychiatric-related ED visits by 23% in the pilot program." — Program evaluation summary