2. Crisis Intervention and Emergency Service

The mission of the Office of Crisis Intervention Services is to provide leadership and support to Mobile Crisis Teams under contract with the Department and to assist mental health professionals and the public by coordinating, implementing and reviewing emergency and non-emergency requests for assistance to "at risk" mentally disabled persons in the community who demonstrate behavior dangerous to themselves or others in New York City. This includes involuntary transport orders pursuant to New York State Mental Hygiene Law, Section 9.45. The CIS is also charged with planning, implementation and coordination of the City's mental health emergency response network during disasters.
The Department has developed a wide ranging crisis response capacity designed to intervene with individuals in the community who are experiencing a psychiatric crisis. The Department distinguishes "crisis" from "emergency."
A "crisis" situation is one that requires prompt attention, but is not immediately life threatening. E.g., A "crisis" occurrence is one that can be improved or resolved by a visit from a mobile crisis team, who generally respond within 48 hours, or by telephone counseling and referral by 1-800-LIFENET, the Department's 24 hour information and referral hotline.
"Emergencies" are life threatening, or potentially violent, situations that demand immediate response. In such instances, the public should summon police by calling "911."
In certain instances psychiatric crises may prompt the need to transport an individual involuntarily to a psychiatric emergency room for further evaluation. All involuntary transports are governed by the New York State Mental Hygiene Law.

1) Hotline

1-800-LIFENET, a confidential, toll-free help line for New York City residents, is operated by the Mental Health Association of New York City in partnership with the Department. LifeNet operates 24 hours per day/7 days per week and provides callers in need with information and referrals to mental health and substance abuse resources throughout the New York City area. LifeNet has the largest database of mental health and substance abuse services in the City, with more than 2,000 listings.
LifeNet assists persons who are experiencing a psychiatric crisis. It is the only telephone help line in New York City to be authorized by the Department to establish linkages with the 23 mobile crisis teams and Emergency Medical Services. This unique, lifesaving authority allows LifeNet to provide a prompt response to callers in urgent need of psychiatric assistance. LifeNet currently receives approximately 2,500 calls per month.

• What types of problems can LifeNet help you with?

Many people have concerns about emotional and substance abuse problems, whether they are our own or those of someone we can about. These can occur in the work place, at school or at home. They can seem overwhelming or small, but you know you need help. These problems may include family difficulties, drug or alcohol abuse, depression, eating disorders or one of the many serious emotional problems which can affect your daily life. Some of these problems may escalate into crisis situations, which could result in serious harm without proper treatment.

• What Can You Expect to Happen When You Call LifeNet?

An experienced referral specialist will listen to the problem and assess the situation. You will then be provided with information and a recommended referral in your area if needed.

• How Does LifeNet Assist People Calling Who Are in Crisis?

Our referral specialists are trained in assessing the severity of the problem based on the caller's report. If it is determined that a level of risk is present, our referral specialists will contact either 911 or a mobile crisis team to provide appropriate intervention. LifeNet will then follow up with the responding agency to check on the status of the person in crisis.

• What Kind of Resources Does LifeNet Have?

LifeNet has access to a broad data base of private and public community resources. In the New York City area there are thousands of referral sources to meet your particular needs, right at our fingertips. LifeNet referral specialists are available to respond to your calls 24 hours, seven days a week.

• How Does LifeNet Work?

You can call for yourself or someone you know. We need to know age, neighborhood and the type of problem. Your needs are then matched with the proper mental health, substance abuse, or crisis service professional qualified to address your problem.

• You're Not in New York City, Yet You Need Help for a City Resident. Can You Call LifeNet?

Yes. From locations outside of New York City, you can reach LifeNet at (212) 995-5824.

• Who Will Know That You've Called?

LifeNet is a confidential, crisis information and referral service where all calls are kept in strictest confidence.

• What Will This Service Cost?

There is absolutely no charge to you. LifeNet is provided as a free community service by the Mental Health Association of New York City, Inc. in collaboration with the New York City Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Alcoholism Services

2) Mobile Crisis Teams

The Office of Crisis Intervention Services has operational oversight responsibility for the Department's Mobile Crisis Management Services. As of 1/1/99 there are twenty-three (23) mobile crisis teams citywide.

• What is a mobile crisis team?

A mobile crisis team is an interdisciplinary team of mental health professionals (e.g., nurses, social workers, psychiatrists, psychologists, mental health technicians, addiction specialists, peer counselors). Teams operate under the auspices of voluntary agencies and municipals hospitals. They respond to persons in the community, usually visiting them at home, although their mandate allows them to make contact at other locations.

• Who can request assistance from mobile crisis teams?

Mobile crisis teams serve any person in New York City who is experiencing, or is at risk of, a psychological crisis, and who requires mental health intervention and follow up support to overcome resistance to treatment. Mobile crisis teams usually are called by family members, neighbors, friends, landlords, clergy or other person(s) concerned about an individual.

• What services do mobile crisis teams provide?

Mobile Crisis Team staff provide a range of services including assessment, crisis intervention, supportive counseling, information and referrals, linkage with appropriate community based mental health services for ongoing treatment, and follow up.

• What if the mobile crisis team determines that the individual in crisis needs to go to the hospital psychiatric emergency room for further evaluation?

Teams will arrange to transport individuals to emergency rooms if further psychiatric and/or medical assessment and care is indicated. If the individual in crisis does not agree to go to the hospital willingly, and meets the specified legal standards (i.e., has a mental illness [or, in some instances appears to have a mental illness] and presents a danger to self or others), mobile crisis teams can direct the police to involuntarily transport such persons to the psychiatric emergency room for further evaluation and possible hospital admission. In most instances the police will direct the ambulance services operated by the City's Emergency Medical Services to provide actual transport. The mobile crisis teams' authority to direct the involuntary removal of persons to the emergency room is provided by the NYS Mental Hygiene Law, Sections 9.37 and 9.58 (described below). The majority of mobile crisis teams have 9.37 designated psychiatrists on their staffs. 9.58 designated mobile crisis teams are available in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens. Project HELP, which serves homeless persons, responds citywide.

• What other kinds of services do mobile crisis teams provide?

Mobile Crisis Teams also assist in outreach to clients who are part of the City's involuntary civil commitment program and who fail to attend outpatient mental health treatment services as mandated by court order.

In recent years, the teams also have become an integral part of the Department's disaster response network. They have conducted crisis counseling to victims in the aftermath of disasters, such as plane crashes, building collapses, major fires and explosions.

• How can be concerned persons get help from a mobile crisis team?

Referrals to the mobile crisis teams are made by calling the Office of Crisis Intervention Services at (212) 219-5599, or by calling the appropriate area mobile crisis team directly (listing below), or 1-800-543-3638 (LIFENET).

Mobile Crisis Teams citywide serve people of all ages with the exception of All Children's House Family Center which serves children and adolescents only.

3) Mobile Service Teams in New York City