A new mobile crisis response program in Lane County is set to launch on Sunday, Aug. 18. Any county resident experiencing a behavioral health emergency can receive trauma-informed, on-site intervention through Lane County Mobile Crisis Services by dialing or texting 988 or calling a dedicated crisis line.
Lane County's ultimate goal is to have vans stationed throughout the county and expand mobile crisis services to 24/7. Undated image.
Courtesy of Lane County Behavioral Health Department/KLCC
Once connected, emergency callers will hear, “You have been connected to the Lane County emergency line. If you have a medical emergency, please hang up and call 911. You will be connected to emergency responders shortly.”
Lane County's Mobile Crisis Services is comprised of a team of mental health professionals trained in de-escalation and stabilization. Crisis calls from both urban and rural areas are triaged and, if necessary, a team is dispatched to the location of the emergency.
During the pilot phase, the program will operate daily from 2pm to 11pm, with the ultimate goal being to have vans located throughout the county and expand mobile crisis services to 24/7.
Lane County residents can reach MCS-LC by calling or texting 988, dialing the Lane County Crisis Line at 541-682-1001, or calling 911 in some cases.
Estimated response time for the Mobile Crisis Response Team in the Eugene/Springfield metropolitan area is one hour, two hours in rural areas, and three hours in “outlying” areas (parts of the McKenzie Bridge area and upper northwest Lane County).
The MCS-LC team provides on-the-ground support, volunteer transportation, resource connections, and works with law enforcement, first responders including Emergency Response and CAHOOTS, and community providers to provide alternatives to emergency rooms and jails.
The Lane County Behavioral Health Department, a division of the Lane County Health and Human Services Agency, developed the Lane County Mobile Crisis Services. Department Director Dr. Pauline Gichohi said the launch of the program marks an “important step for Lane County by expanding our capacity for much-needed behavioral crisis support and ensuring equitable access for people experiencing behavioral crisis no matter where they are in the county.”
