SDCOE, County of San Diego Help Students in Crisis

San Diego County students experiencing a behavioral health crisis now have access to compassionate, age-appropriate help through the county’s Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCRT).

The San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) and the County of San Diego Behavioral Health Services have partnered to create crisis response services specifically designed for students and staff in K-12 public schools, using responders who are trained to manage these types of incidents in school communities. 

“About 28% of our middle and high school students are experiencing chronic sadness and hopelessness, and more than 11% have seriously considered suicide, according to data from the California Healthy Kids Survey,” said Heather Nemour, coordinator at SDCOE.  

“Schools are busy and do not have many staff trained to handle a behavioral health crisis. Schools are gradually learning about this new service and continuously express their gratitude for this much-needed service,” she said. 

SDCOE advocated for school-specific services after hearing from numerous local educational agencies that they needed non-law enforcement support to address student mental health crises. SDCOE recently trained the county’s contracted mental health clinicians on best practices in K-12 schools, which included strategies for collaboration with schools, students, and parents.

Crisis Response Teams utilize transitional age youth staff or peer support specialists to engage with youth. They establish a safe environment and present themselves as calm and empathetic. They implement de-escalation strategies by engaging in active listening, avoiding judgment, and respecting the young person’s physical space. They may also use sensory soothing techniques, mindful breathing, and grounding exercises, all in an effort to build rapport and engage the youth to help meet their needs.

They will also assess any additional needs a student may have and help coordinate treatment services as needed for up to 30 days from the initial service.

"MCRT was able to help calm our student, and provides lots of resources for further assistance," said Siraj Mohamed, school counselor at City Heights Prep Charter School. 

The youth-centered initiative is based on the county’s existing Mobile Crisis Response Team launched in 2021 to provide an alternative response option for San Diego County residents experiencing a mental health or substance use-related crisis. The non-law enforcement teams are trained to respond, assess, and de-escalate behavioral health crises dispatched via the Access and Crisis Line or calls to emergency services across all regions of the county.

Before launching the MCRT in K-12, schools typically requested the Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (PERT), which paired a clinician with a police officer. However, they often found it to be unavailable or perceived it as a punitive response to a mental health crisis.

“Using a trauma-informed response to behavioral health crises will help break the cycle of stigma and help normalize it,” Nemour said. 

Service providers offer coverage for K-12 and charter schools in all regions of the county during school hours. To participate, school staff members must attend the training webinar or watch the recorded version, to understand when and how to use the crisis response team. 

"Thank you to the MCRT team for your passion, compassion, and quick response when supporting staff and students during times of crisis,” said Cheyenne Leon, counselor at Feaster Charter School. “We are truly grateful for the opportunity to utilize these valuable services for our students."

SDCOE and the County of San Diego meet regularly to ensure the program continues to evolve and addresses the needs of schools and students. 

To learn more about the Mobile Crisis Response Team in schools, visit the SDCOE website.