Mobile Crisis Outreach Team

StarCare’s highly trained and dedicated staff on our Mobile Crisis Outreach Team (MCOT) provides intervention and assessment for appropriate interventions and resolutions 24/7 to people suffering from a mental health crisis.

Like any other health crisis, it’s important to address a mental health emergency quickly and effectively. With mental health conditions, crises can be difficult to predict because, often, there are no warning signs. Mental health crises can occur even when treatment plans have been followed and mental health professionals are involved. Unfortunately, unpredictability is the nature of mental illness.

Warning Signs of a Mental Health Crisis:^[1]

Inability to perform daily tasks: bathing, brushing teeth, brushing hair, changing clothes
Rapid mood swings, increased energy level, inability to stay still, pacing: suddenly depressed, withdrawn; suddenly happy or calm after period of depression
Increased agitation: verbal threats, violent, out-of-control behavior, destroys property
Abusive behavior to self and others, including substance use or self-harm (such as cutting)
Isolation from school, work, family, friends
Loses touch with reality (psychosis): unable to recognize family or friends, confused, strange ideas, thinks they’re someone they’re not, doesn’t understand what people are saying, hears voices, sees things that aren’t there
Paranoia: suspicion and mistrust of people or their actions without evidence or justification

Mental Health Crisis De-escalation Strategies