Getting help during a mental health crisis can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re unsure where to turn. But for residents in New Bedford and surrounding communities, a new service is making that process a little easier.
In May, Child & Family Services launched two custom-designed mobile crisis vans across Southeastern Massachusetts, enhancing its rapid behavioral health response through the Community Behavioral Health Center’s Mobile Crisis Intervention Program. CFS is the first agency in the state to provide this level of mobile crisis support.
The vans, which also serve Plymouth and Fall River, are staffed by trained professionals who offer immediate support, guidance, and connection to care. Designed with comfort and discretion in mind, they provide a quiet, calming space for crisis assessments while promoting client anonymity and reducing anxiety, according to CFS.
Each vehicle features a private therapeutic environment with client seating, a desk, a built-in couch, and climate control with both heating and air conditioning. Dimmable lighting enhances the sense of safety, and both vans are ADA-compliant, equipped with wheelchair-accessible ramps and spacious interiors for easy maneuverability.
Emblazoned on the sides of each vans is a clear message offering help: “Here to Help Anytime, Anywhere.”
In May, Coastline staff had the opportunity to tour one of the vans when Philip Gomez, director of CFS’s Mobile Crisis Program, visited the organization. Care managers and other employees working with older adults explored the vehicle and learned about its capabilities. Gomez explained that the interior includes private client space with computers to help individuals complete essential support applications. He emphasized the importance of making mental health care accessible to people in need, noting that one in five Americans experienced a mental health issue in 2020.
In addition to mobile accessibility, the Mobile Crisis program offers extended hours, operating 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends, 365 days a year. Services via the vans are available to people of all ages and backgrounds, including those who are uninsured, and can address mental health support, substance use treatment, and crisis stabilization.
By meeting people where they are, the program aims to remove barriers to care, like traveling to a CFS office, and provide timely help. It also has the potential to reduce calls to police and lessen the strain on overcrowded hospital emergency departments.
Trained staff can conduct on-site assessments and develop personalized care plans to support individuals beyond the immediate crisis. This approach, CFS says, helps reduce the risk of recurring episodes. In addition to assessments and therapy, the vans also offer immediate access to critical community resources, such as preassembled essentials kits for those experiencing homelessness.
Also speaking at Coastline during the van visit was Rev. David Lima, president of the Greater New Bedford Suicide Prevention Coalition. Lima addressed the stigma around mental health and substance use challenges that can keep people from seeking help. In his remarks, he offered practical advice for supporting those in distress.
“It’s not enough to say you need help,” he said. “You’ve got to be encouraging and say, hey, why don’t we go together? Why don’t we set the appointment? … Be encouraging. Go with them. Because you know how many times someone has taken somebody to the recovery center or to an AA meeting and you drop them off and as soon as they see you drive away, they come back out the doors.”
Gomez echoed that message, noting that a key advantage of the vans is their ability to bring services directly to the person in need, removing the pressure of going elsewhere to receive help.
To connect with the mobile service, individuals can call the crisis line at (508) 996-3154. CFS encourages community members to engage with staff if they see a Mobile Crisis Intervention van in their neighborhood.
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