Mental Health Crisis Intervention

Sacramento County Mental Health Treatment Center

The Sacramento County Mental Health Treatment Center (SCMHTC) is a locked, adult psychiatric health facility providing acute inpatient services to Sacramento County residents who are indigent or have Sacramento County Medi-Cal. This facility operates 24 hours, 365 days a year. The Treatment Center also provides information regarding resources for individuals with mental health crisis. The Treatment Center telephone number is 916 875-1000. This line is answered between 7:00 am and 11:00 pm. Between the hours of 11:00 pm and 7:00 am; members of the public may call 1-888-881-4881 for assistance.  For all contacts, interpreters are available at no charge to the caller when needed.

Minor Emergency Response Team

The Minor Emergency Response Team (MERT) is located within the Treatment Center at 2150 Stockton Blvd.  MERT mental health assessments and crisis services to children and adolescents are provided by an interdisciplinary team of skilled professionals including nurses, counselors, and psychiatrists.  Clinical and diagnostic services from MERT are available from 8 am – 8 pm on a walk-in basis for children and families in the Sacramento community. The staff assess whether children in crisis need hospital care or outpatient services. In addition to providing triage and crisis stabilization services, the MERT team receives many calls from concerned parents and caretakers. Support and guidance is available from the MERT staff from 10:00 am - 7:00pm at (916) 875-1113 or (916) 875-1114.  The Sacramento County telephone number that individuals can call to access mental health services after hours is (888) 881-4881.  For all contacts, interpreters are available at no charge to the caller when needed.

When hospitalization is necessary, MERT staff coordinates the process and arrange for the minor to be transferred to an inpatient unit. Discharge planning and collaboration occurs between the MERT staff and the many community based organizations that provide services to the children and families of Sacramento County to ensure that wherever possible, children and youth remain in their home and natural environment with additional supports.

A broad continuum of care is available within the Sacramento community for children and families in need of mental health services and support. Outpatient individual, family and group therapies as well as other evaluative and treatment services are available. These treatment services are linked by the MERT staff in a timely fashion with final authorization and coordination done by the Child & Family Access Team. The Access Team matches convenient and accessible culturally competent services to the client and family.

Children and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinic

The Children and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinic provides non-emergency psychiatric, psychological and medication assessments. This clinic is located at 3331 Power Inn Road, along with many other Sacramento County children’s mental health programs. Their interdisciplinary team including a pediatrician and nursing staff along with psychiatry and psychology staff, are available for screening, testing and consultation of eligible children. Services for this clinic are authorized by the Child and Family Access Team, which also operates from the Granite Regional Park site.

Child Access Team

The Child Access Team screens for eligibility and serves as the initial entry point for mental health services and assessments. The Child Access Team may be reached at (916) 875-9980 or FAX (916) 875-9970.

Adult Access Team

The Adult Access Team screens for eligibility and serves as the initial entry point for mental health services and assessments. The Adult Access Team may be reached at (916) 875-1055 or FAX (916) 875-1190.

SAFE Advocacy

Throughout our system of care the parent’s voice and perspective is a valued component of the treatment plan and development of services. To strengthen and ensure this voice, a team of advocates (parents, family members, as well as young adults) is employed by individual community based organizations as well as through the County operated programs. Advocates presence empowers families and children to make strength based and culturally competent decisions about their own lives and course of treatment. Family input is encouraged at all levels of policy and program development as a core mission of the Division of Mental Health. Advocates provide a wide array of support services. Parent self-help groups, coaching, training and individual support are available through this highly motivated team. To speak with an advocate or to obtain additional information about this program or its services call the Sacramento Advocacy for Family Empowerment (SAFE). SAFE may be reached at (916) 875-4182.

Specialty Services

Additionally there are specialty services providing a limited degree of crisis intervention in the community. The MedClinic/Geriatric Network evaluates elderly individuals suffering from acute mental health problems. Two of the local private inpatient facilities also have crisis teams able to evaluate individuals in the community.

Other Resources

Whenever a crisis is developing, the primary agency providing services to the client should be contacted. If that resource is not available or the individual has no service provider, the following list of agencies can be used to aid in an intervention.

CHW/Geriatric Network (elderly) 648-2800

Volunteers of America (homeless) 442-3691

Mental Health Treatment Center -Crisis line 732-3637

Suicide Prevention Services 368-3111

Sacramento City Police 911 or 264-5151

Sacramento County Sheriff 911 or 874-5115

 Project HOPE (homeless 8-5 M-F) 448-5621x30