Mental health mobile crisis unit now available in Le Sueur County

Through a partnership with 10 Minnesota counties, including Le Sueur County, mobile crisis services are now being offered to children, teens and adults who are experiencing a mental health crisis. 

The service comes from Horizon Homes, Inc. that provides the mobile team who will provide support for those having a mental health crisis in the comfort of their own home or community location.

According to Darren Tungsvik, the Mobile Crisis Treatment Director, the crisis can range from severe need for high levels of care, to minor ones needing an ear to listen. “We help people manage their symptoms for whatever they’re going through,” he said. 

They can include: 

- Feelings of being stressed and overwhelmed.

- Plans or thought of hurting yourself or others

- Finding it difficult to complete normal daily activities due to stress or other symptoms

- Increase or change in symptoms such as mood, anxiety, panic attacks, hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that other people don’t see or hear) or delusions (false beliefs).

The mobile service offers a more convenient way for people to deal with their crisis. Before now, Tungsvik noted, the only options were to call law enforcement or take the individual to the emergency room.

“We can meet with people in their homes or other community location,” he said.”It brings the crisis team to the person needing help.” 

Tungsvik said when the team arrives, they will first assess the situation and devise a treatment plan for the individual. He added that only parents/guardians or schools can start the process of calling the Mobile Crisis Team, and you must be 18 to call. However, the age of consent is 16 years old, which means the team can interview those youth without a parent/guardian present.

The team offers problem solving and coping strategies, referrals to other services,family education and support, crisis prevention planning and brief ongoing support.

The Mobile Crisis Team is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for anyone in Le Sueur County, regardless if they live in the county or not. It is housed out of Horizon Homes, Inc. out of Mankato. Tungsvik said the program’s services are designed to complement and effectively use existing mental health system, and when possible, fill in the gaps for individuals with needs beyond the traditional system.

He added that the team will bill insurance companies. If patients can’t pay or if insurance companies won’t cover, the bill will be paid by a grant. The only time a person may get charged a small fee is if they don’t volunteer insurance information.

For more information, or to refer someone to the Mobile Crisis Team, call 1-877-399-3040.