Crisis Now meetings gather likeminded people for crisis mitigation solutions

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - In Fairbanks and throughout Alaska, behavioral health resources are limited.

In order to connect all the dots and resources, the City of Fairbanks launched a mobile crisis team which has implemented a “crisis now” model that serves to help residents when they’re in a behavioral health crisis. The Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority funded the Mobile Crisis Team and the Crisis Now Coordinator position. The Mobile Crisis Team is operated by Alaska Behavioral Health. Brenda McFarlane, who is the crisis now community coordinator explains that these services meet the unique needs of Alaskans.

“The crisis now meeting is to keep building momentum to bring the kind of services that we feel like would best serve Fairbanks and bring in experts that can speak to those services but also keep tabs and keep updated on what all the providers are currently offering and often are expanding services,” said, McFarlane.

Although the crisis now meetings are held virtually, it’s still important as behavioral health needs should be addressed just as much as a physical wound be in the hospital. “If you’re in a mental health crisis you might not have someone come out to you. You might not get health care immediately at the hospital and you might not get a referral that happens within a certain period of time so crisis now is all about immediate appropriate care for behavioral health emergencies,” said, McFarlane.

You can reach the crisis care line by dialing 988. If you want someone to come to your location in either Fairbanks or North Pole you can call 911 and the mobile crisis team will be dispatched to your location. The Crisis Now meetings are open to the public and are held monthly. More information about Crisis Now can be found at fairbanksalaska.us/crisis.

This story has been updated with new information.

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