Crisis

Northwest’s Mobile Crisis Services are an open-access system designed to serve individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. These services are available 24/7/365. 

All Mobile Crisis staff are trained in Trauma Informed Care and Zero Suicide Safer Care.

Crisis

Services

Triage/Screening

Upon initial contact, the individual in crisis's level of risk is assessed to determine the most appropriate response.

Depending on the severity, different levels of response include verbal communication and de-escalation, community setting response (two-person team), or first responders and crisis teams responding together. 

Assessment

Clinicians then conduct an assessment to identify the causes leading to the crisis, safety and risk involved (including suicidality), strengths/resources of the person experiencing the crisis, recent services provided, medications, and relevant medical history.

Crisis Intervention/Resolution

Mobile Crisis Team intervenes to de-escalate the crisis with the goal not only to determine the appropriate level of care for a referral, but to attempt to resolve the crisis so a higher level of care (hospitalization or institutionalization) is not necessary.

Follow-Up

The Mobile Crisis Team will continue to follow up with the client for approximately 60 days as needed. This may include additional crisis intervention and resolution, peer services, case management services, and assistance with transportat

Crisis Residential Unit (CRU)

Northwest’s crisis residential facility is a 16-bed program designed to address the intensive needs of clients with severe mental illness. As an alternative to state hospitalization or institutionalization, the CRU provides care for 150 to 365 days, with the goal of transitioning clients to a less restrictive setting.

Admission Criteria

To be admitted to the CRU program, clients must:

  • Be exhibiting acute symptoms of their psychiatric illness that may not be treated in a residential group home or day treatment.
  • Be able to participate in the treatment planning and treatment processes.
  • Exhibit and meet ICD-10 criteria of a major psychiatric diagnosis denoting their serious mental illness.
  • Exhibit severe deficits in daily functioning in multiple areas of function including, but not limited to the following:
    • Danger to self or others.
    • Impaired reality contact manifested in delusions, hallucinations, or ideas of reference.
    • Withdrawal from social activities.
    • Regression in activities of daily living.
    • Inability to recognize symptoms of illness.
    • Mental confusion.
    • Inability to control impulses.
    • Inability to self-medicate.
    • Severe, disabling anxiety or panic.
    • Significant sleep disturbance.
    • Suicidal/homicidal ideation without plan.
    • Severe deficits in basic living skills.
    • Abuse of alcohol and/or drugs secondary to acute exacerbation of mental illness symptoms.

Treatment recommendations and approvals will always be based on the least restrictive alternative philosophy and most appropriate for the needs of the client.

Services

The Crisis Residential Unit offers a broad range of clinical services including:  

  • Daily consultation/visits with psychiatrist/psychiatric nurse practitioner
  • Individual psychotherapy
  • Mental illness group therapy
  • Substance abuse group therapy
  • Medication administration/management
  • Crisis intervention
  • Case management
  • Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
  • Basic living skills training
  • Nursing services
  • Transportation services
  • Peer Support services
  • Family support/education
  • Community orientation