-Photo Messenger by Kelby Wingert
Samantha Berning, left, and Bre Degelau are members of the UnityPoint Health/Eyerly Ball Community Mental Health Services Mobile Crisis Response Team. The number for MCRT is 1-855-581-8111.
When you’re in the midst of a mental health crisis, it can be difficult to know what resources and services are immediately available to help.
In the northwest and north central Iowa region, the UnityPoint — Eyerly Ball Mobile Crisis Response Team is available to dispatch 24/7 for any mental health crisis.
The mobile crisis response team is funded through Community Services of Central Iowa and Care Connections of the Northern Iowa Region and serves an 18-county region, including Franklin, Hamilton, Hardin, Boone, Story, Marshall, Jasper , Poweshiek, Warren, Madison, Greene , Wright, Winnebago, Webster, Worth, Hancock, Kossuth and Cerro Gordo counties.
To access the mobile crisis response team, anyone can call the Crisis Center at 1-855-581-8111.
Samantha Berning, of Fort Dodge, is a social worker and team leader for four of the six crisis teams with the service. She said MCRT has been serving Webster County since April 2021.
“What’s cool about our program is that we don’t define a crisis, so we can respond to anyone in the community who is dealing with suicidal ideation, or grieving a loved one, up until the past day of bad at work and loving someone. to talk,” Berning said.
When someone calls 1-855-581-8111, they will speak with a dispatcher who will try to de-escalate the situation over the phone and determine if further assistance is needed.
“If they decide that an in-person response is best, then they will send our counselors who are spread out around the community to respond to that address.” Berning said. “Our main concern is when we’re out there is the assessment for safety, so we want to make sure that that individual can remain safe, especially for the next 24 hours, but generally just a safe period.”
When a team is sent, it’s usually two counselors, she said. Their goal is to respond within an hour or less.
“We make sure we can help them with whatever we can, whether it’s giving them resources, removing them from the situation, talking about different coping skills, some different things we can do to help them at this moment.” she said.
“If transportation is necessary to ensure client safety, on-call counselors will transport volunteer clients age 12 and older (with a parent or guardian present for children and dependent adults)” according to the UnityPoint-Eyerly Ball MCRT website.
“At that time, we can help them create different services that they need in the community, create therapy for them.” Berning said.
Individuals can also call other people, Berning said.
“A teacher can call a student, a friend can call someone.” she said. “As long as we have a willing individual on the scene, we can respond.”
In the 18-county region covered by this MCRT, they get anywhere from 10 to 20 calls a month, Berning said. In Webster County, they get about eight to 10 calls each month.
“Most of our calls to assist are when law enforcement comes out and they don’t think it’s a law enforcement type of situation.” she said. “So they’ll call us and we’ll go on stage and take over.”
She said many schools in the region also require the team’s services.
“We serve all ages and all crises,” she said.
To contact the mobile crisis team, call 1-855-581-8111.
