Editorial: Can Mobile Crisis Response Help Mitigate Racialized Disparities in Acute Child Mental Health Care?

Abstract

Mobile crisis response (MCR) is a community-based intervention designed to provide de-escalation and relief to individuals experiencing a behavioral health or substance use-related crisis wherever they are, including at home, at work, at school, or in the community. Often it is the first, or only, option for youth who experience barriers to accessing traditional mental health care in the community. Elevated rates of mental health needs and suicidality among children and adolescents in the United States make availability of quality MCR increasingly important. Studies suggest that an estimated 70% to 80% of children with mental health disorders do not receive care, and minoritized children are even less likely to access community-based behavioral health care services.¹ MCR can act as a bridge for securing treatment for children in acute distress. However, until recently, few studies have demonstrated the outcomes of MCR services for children and adolescents or more specifically for minoritized youth.