Recognizing the significant gaps in mental health care access in rural areas, Lane County is set to unveil a groundbreaking mobile crisis response program aimed at addressing what are often termed “mental health care deserts.”
Acknowledging the stark geographic disparities in health equity across Oregon’s sixth largest county, Health and Human Services spokesperson Jason Davis emphasized the challenges faced by individuals and communities lacking nearby health facilities. “For many individuals and whole communities in Lane County, they don’t have a health facility anywhere close to them, which means that they have difficulty accessing services,” Davis stated. “For those individuals who might be without a car—or forget to line up transportation—they’re without health care.”
In response to these challenges, Lane County is launching “Mobile Crisis Services of Lane County,” a program designed to dispatch trained professionals to assist rural residents experiencing behavioral health or substance abuse crises. This initiative mirrors the successful national model, akin to CAHOOTS, which has been serving residents of Eugene and Springfield. Additionally, West Lane Crisis Services, established as a pilot project five years ago, has been catering to coastal residents in and around Florence.
Under the umbrella of Mobile Crisis Services of Lane County, all existing and new mobile crisis services, including CAHOOTS and West Lane, will adhere to Oregon Health Authority requirements, ensuring that qualified mental health professionals respond to emergencies.
Despite the promising impact of this expansion, challenges remain. The project is expected to require an annual budget of approximately $5 million, with initial funding secured through state lawmakers. However, sustaining funding through health insurance and Medicaid remains a goal for the county.
Recruitment poses another hurdle, with the hiring process for the 40 necessary staff members progressing slowly. Davis acknowledged the difficulty in attracting qualified mental health professionals, emphasizing the demanding nature of the work. Despite these challenges, Lane County is making strides, having already acquired vehicles for the mobile fleet and anticipating commencement of services in rural communities by late spring.
For rural communities like Oakridge, situated an hour outside of Eugene, the prospect of accessing mental health crisis care is met with enthusiasm. City Manager James Cleavenger underscored the scarcity of services in Oakridge and highlighted the memorandum of understanding being negotiated with Lane County to establish an outpost for a mobile crisis team. Cleavenger, drawing from his experience as a former Oakridge police officer, emphasized the critical need for mental health crisis intervention, noting instances where individuals experiencing crises have ignited fires. He expressed optimism about the forthcoming support from mobile crisis units, emphasizing the importance of non-uniformed mental health crisis workers in de-escalating situations.
With plans in motion to deploy mobile crisis units to rural areas like Oakridge by May, Lane County is poised to make significant strides in addressing mental health care disparities and providing critical support to underserved communities.
