Mobile crisis teams composed of mental health professionals are being used to respond to behavioral health crises that would typically go through 911. These teams offer a "humanity-first lens" to mental health, providing a compassionate and supportive response to those in need. Federal agencies have praised these teams as essential to addressing mental health and substance use crises. However, over a year after the launch of the 988 hotline and almost a billion federal dollars later, many Americans still lack access to mobile crisis teams. As a result, in many places, police are still responding to most mental health crises. |