When someone in Harris County has a mental health crisis, they're now more likely to get help from a trained counselor instead of police. The county launched new mobile crisis teams and support services to connect people with treatment rather than jail.
Harris County added 12 new mobile crisis response teams that can reach people during mental health emergencies. These teams include counselors who know how to help someone who is struggling. The county also opened a 24-hour crisis stabilization center in the Fifth Ward area.
A new diversion program helps people move from jail into mental health services. Community advocates worked for years to shift money away from putting people in jail and toward getting them treatment. County leaders approved funding for these programs in 2022.
People can access these crisis services by calling 911 during an emergency. The mobile teams respond alongside or instead of police officers. The crisis center in Fifth Ward stays open all day and night for people who need immediate help stabilizing their mental health.
The mobile teams can also connect people to longer-term mental health services in the community. This helps people get ongoing support after a crisis passes. The goal is to help people stay healthy and avoid future emergencies.
These services are part of Harris County's larger effort to treat mental health as a health issue rather than a criminal justice problem. The expansion continues rolling out across Houston neighborhoods.
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