Crisis Response Teams

Members of crisis response teams will likely be involved in situations where an individual is unwilling to accept intervention or services due to the nature of his or her mental illness.  If the person is not an imminent danger to himself/herself or others, the best plan is to give the person the amount of services and intervention that he/she is comfortable with, assisting with connection with other services to the extent that he/she is willing.  This is not possible, however, when a person is likely to hurt themselves or another person.

In situations like this, two key groups of people can be essential.  The first is a health officer.  Many (but not all) crisis responders will fit into this group.  A health officer is defined as a person who is a licensed physician, licensed psychologist, licensed social worker, psychiatric or public health nurse, or a formally designated member of a Prepetition Screening Unit.  Prepetition screening unit professionals are identified by a county to review, process, and initiate commitment hearings for people who have a chemical dependency, mental retardation or mental illness, and are thought to be a danger to themselves or others.

If a crisis responder is a health officer and has reason to believe that the person is mentally ill and in danger of injuring self or others if not immediately restrained, the health officer may write a Peace or Health Officer Hold (commonly referred to as a Transportation Hold). This is a request that law enforcement and/or paramedics take that person into custody and transport him or her to a licensed physician or treatment facility.