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When a behavioral health crisis occurs, many communities default to involving law enforcement. The result? Individuals in crisis are often taken to jails, an environment ill-suited to addressing their mental health needs. This approach not only fails the individual but also places an unnecessary burden on the criminal justice system.
Connections Health Solutions Jul 24, 2025 -
When a behavioral health crisis occurs, many communities default to involving law enforcement. The result? Individuals in crisis are often taken to jails, an environment ill-suited to addressing their mental health needs. This approach not only fails the individual but also places an unnecessary burden on the criminal justice system.
Connections Health Solutions Jul 24, 2025 -
When a behavioral health crisis strikes, the emergency room is often the first place people turn for help. While emergency departments (EDs) are essential for treating physical trauma and acute medical conditions, they are not equipped to address the complex needs of individuals experiencing a mental health crisis.
Connections Health Solutions Jul 3, 2025 -
When communities face behavioral health crises, the default solutions often involve incarceration or emergency room visits. While these options might seem like the quickest route to care, they come with hidden costs that can strain the individuals in crisis, families, and healthcare systems alike. To truly address the behavioral health crisis, it’s time to reconsider how we allocate resources and explore more sustainable, impactful alternatives.
Connections Health Solutions Jul 3, 2025
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23-hour crisis observation units aim to quickly assess needs, initiate treatment, and plan for discharge to ensure ongoing stabilization in the least restrictive setting. An interdisciplinary team uses various interventions—such as medications, peer support, family involvement, and care coordination—to address crises and resolve psychosocial barriers.
Connections Health Solutions Sep 18, 2024 -
One of the core goals of crisis services is to reduce unnecessary emergency department visits and jail bookings by providing readily accessible behavioral health care. A dedicated receiving function at crisis centers plays a pivotal role in this mission, offering a 24/7 entry point for individuals in need through walk-ins, emergency department transfers, and direct drop-offs by first responders.
Connections Health Solutions Sep 11, 2024 -
The delivery of mental health services in emergency settings remains a significant challenge. Fragmented systems often struggle to provide the appropriate level of care at the critical moment when a person's crisis peaks. Comprehensive crisis centers offer a solution to this problem by integrating multiple levels of service within a single, coordinated system.
The "no wrong door" approach is central to the comprehensive crisis model. Irrespective of how an individual presents, the center is equipped to immediately initiate assessment and treatment. This eliminates the risk of a person in crisis being denied care due to lack of availability or inappropriate levels of service.
The comprehensive crisis center comprises four core components:Connections Health Solutions Sep 4, 2024 -
A well-designed crisis care system has the potential to transform how individuals in need access timely and appropriate support. Central to this vision are crisis centers, which provide immediate interventions for those experiencing behavioral health emergencies.
Connections Health Solutions Aug 28, 2024 -
Arizona has evolved its crisis response system over the past 15 years, establishing a model that emphasizes coordination, accessibility, and fiscal responsibility. At the heart of this transformation is a managed Medicaid structure, a robust funding strategy, and a commitment to treating individuals in the community.
Connections Health Solutions Aug 7, 2024 -
Oftentimes, people experiencing mental health and substance abuse-related problems end up incarcerated. How do we ensure that individuals in crisis are receiving the proper response, treatment, and services?
Connections Health Solutions Jul 24, 2024 -
In the realm of mental health much has been done over the past few years to advance the crisis response system. Leading the charge is the state of Arizona, who has charted a remarkable course, sculpting a system with four key components that form the backbone of an effective crisis response system. Let's delve into these pillars that collectively contribute to a comprehensive and impactful system.
Connections Health Solutions Jul 17, 2024 -
A "No Wrong Door" crisis response center (CRC) is an approach that revolutionizes how first responders and law enforcement partners can help individuals in crisis get treatment instead of the alternative of jail or languishing in the emergency department (ED) waiting for a bed. Centers who operate as a “no wrong door” facility have become pivotal in reshaping the narrative around mental health emergencies.
Connections Health Solutions Jul 10, 2024 -
With an increase in fentanyl across the globe, Connections Health Solutions’ chief of quality and innovation officer, Dr. Margie Balfour, spoke to what Connections is doing and how crisis response centers can help.
“Part of our mission is to get people into treatment instead of in the justice system,” Dr. Balfour stated.
Connections Health Solutions Jul 3, 2024 -
When 911 is called for a mental health crisis, the default response is often law enforcement rather than mental health professionals - but a proven response model is looking to change that.
Connections Health Solutions Jun 26, 2024
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