RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — As part of Mental Health Awareness Month, the organization Sycamores is partnering with the county to offer round-the-clock crisis support for individuals facing mental health or substance use emergencies throughout the region.
At the heart of this initiative are Mobile Crisis Response Teams (MCRTs) — units of unarmed, trained mental health professionals who provide in-person intervention 24/7, wherever the crisis is occurring in the community.
“Our mobile crisis response teams provide a team of unarmed, trained mental health professionals to respond in-person, wherever the person in crisis may be out in the community,” said Jana Lord, Chief Operating Officer of Sycamores.
The program aims to de-escalate crises in the field, offering immediate assessment and care, while reducing the reliance on police and emergency room services — two systems often overburdened with mental health-related calls.
By prioritizing non-law enforcement responses, Sycamores’ model seeks to create safer, more compassionate outcomes for those in distress, aligning with a growing national movement to transform mental health crisis care.
The initiative is part of a broader effort in Riverside County to expand access to community-based mental health resources, increase early intervention, and improve long-term recovery outcomes.
