Addressing the behavioral health crisis requires a collaborative effort, as no single agency can tackle this challenge alone. Effective partnerships among stakeholders are essential for improving community outcomes, particularly for mobile crisis response teams, which can improve their efficiency and impact through collaboration.

Build trust and relationships 

Prioritizing trust and relationship-building with local stakeholders—such as law enforcement and healthcare providers—creates a supportive framework for collaboration that ensures individuals in crisis receive the right care at the right time. Establishing strong relationships fosters resource-sharing and creates a unified approach to crisis management, improving the services available for those in need.

Strategic use of technology

Mobile crisis teams can also leverage technology to improve their efficiency. For instance, accessing law enforcement’s Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) system allows crisis teams to position themselves in high-call areas, ensuring quicker responses to urgent behavioral health crises. Establishing direct dispatch protocols with local agencies, like Help Center, Inc., which operates the 988 hotline, can further streamline responses, offering a “civilian-first” model that prioritizes mental health professionals and reduces unnecessary law enforcement involvement, which ultimately leads to a more supportive environment for individuals in crisis.   

Compassion and efficiency

By emphasizing a culture of compassion and efficiency, mobile crisis teams can establish effective response standards and promote seamless collaboration among stakeholders, ultimately enhancing support for individuals in need. Working alongside 988, these teams ensure that resources are optimally utilized, while also giving individuals the choice in how they want to engage with support. Mobile crisis teams play a critical role in bridging gaps in systems that often leave people without help, engaging those who might otherwise go unsupported. Using innovative tools like EHR tele-platforms or phone services, they deliver timely and compassionate care exactly where it's needed. 

This approach not only improves immediate crisis response but also fosters long-term community impact, encouraging the adoption of similar strategies to enhance mental health care across communities.