WESTCHESTER — With the Chester County Department of Health and the County Department of Social Services, Jason Alexander, co-founder of the Westchester-based Capacity for Change, addresses the ongoing crisis and the overwhelming need for mental and behavioral health services. We are working on addressing sexuality.
Chester County Commissioner Josh Maxwell supports the plan.
“There was no question that mental health needed to be a priority in our programs and budgets,” said Maxwell. “We can’t think of any more emergency services than providing much-needed mental health support to more residents.”
A three-tier system for dealing with mental health issues consists of developing a contact center with three phone and text hotlines, including a 988 crisis hotline. Those who have not experienced a crisis have phone numbers.
“Each pillar is important because residents need phone, text, chat, or face-to-face options,” Alexander said.
Two mobile mental health response teams may visit face-to-face with people seeking mental health and behavioral information. Response teams may eventually be established to visit people experiencing difficulties at home or elsewhere.
“Too many Chester County families know how devastating a mental health crisis can be. “This mobile mental crisis unit can meet people where they are and support people coping with traumatic experiences and drug problems.
“The unit will be able to connect people with providers who can achieve the best possible results while removing pressure from police and the criminal justice system.”
A third-tier walk-in Crisis Stabilization Center is available for face-to-face communication with a counselor in a central location to defuse the situation.
Both the Crisis Center and Mobile Mental Health Crisis Team could be operational in 2023.
A 45-member committee met to determine what could be combined to create a better response system for people with mental health and behavioral challenges in the county. did.
Approximately 1,500 residents were surveyed and interviewed to plan the launch of the three pillars.
