On January 1st, New Hampshire became the latest of more than 35 states to implement statewide mobile crisis response teams (MCRT) for behavioral health issues. The new program builds on the three MCRTs already operating in Concord, Manchester, and Nashua by expanding the service statewide and adding a 24/7 crisis line. This is a collaboration between the state’s ten Community Mental Health Centers, Beacon Health Options, and the NH Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and represents a monumental step to reduce barriers to accessing behavioral health services in our state.

The NH Rapid Response Access Point hotline (AP) went live at midnight on January 1 and began receiving calls, texts, and chats from the public. It is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by mental health professionals who will assist callers in managing their immediate emotional distress. If the AP’s mental health professional determines the caller needs more than a telephonic intervention, they will dispatch one of the state’s Community Mental Health Center MCRTs. The goal is for the MCRT to respond, in person, within an hour of being dispatched. In the first ten days of operations, the hotline handled more than 1,300 phone calls, 32 text conversations, and 77 online chats. Additionally, it dispatched MCRT more than 230 times to assist persons in crisis.

Community Partners, Strafford County’s community mental health center, along with the other nine Community Mental Health Centers in New Hampshire, is committed to the success of the NH Rapid Response System. To ensure success, we continue to hold regular post-implementation meetings with the DHHS and Beacon Health Options to address issues as they arise. During the first week of operation, Beacon Health Options held trouble shooting “Zoom Rooms” for six hours every day. These rooms were open so that any questions or issues could be addressed quickly by decisionmakers. This transparency and collaboration speak to the commitment by all in ensuring this program delivers much needed service throughout the state.

The AP system will help us address delays in service delivery by providing immediate support to a caller in crisis. It is an exciting and promising initiative as our state has grappled with the rising demand for mental health services and workforce shortages for several years. The anxiety, depression and isolation brought on by Covid fueled the need for mental health services for our youth population as remote learning cut off many necessary social interactions. This stretched an already fragile system to a level which no one could have predicted. Each of the Community Mental Health Centers has a team ready to deploy and provide short-term follow-up services to those in need. Hopefully, gone are the days when it would take weeks before someone experiencing emotional distress could talk with a behavioral health professional.

Currently, New Hampshire’s Rapid Response Access Point number is a 10-digit toll free number. In the summer of 2022, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline 10-digit number will be replaced with a simple three-digit number – 988. The AP number will also transition to 988, making it even easier to access a behavioral health professional when needed. Until then, if you or someone you know is in need of immediate help for a mental health or substance use crisis, call or text the Rapid Response Access Point phone number: 833-710-6477 or visit NH988.com.

Like so many organizations not only around the state, but around the country, challenges do occur due to staff shortages, and our team is working that much harder to get the Rapid Response System integrated into our existing model. We are very optimistic about the pieces that are being put into place; it may take some time to work through initial challenges but it’s going to make a great positive impact.

Brian Collins is Executive Director of Community Partners in Dover.