Elise Chase is Sweetser’s director of crisis services and oversees mobile crisis response teams in nine Maine counties.
For many in Maine, a mental health crisis doesn’t wait for business hours, and it certainly doesn’t wait until you can find a ride to the nearest hospital.
Historically, the default response to such urgent support has been the emergency room — a loud, bright and often clinical environment that may exacerbate the very distress it seeks to treat. However, Maine’s behavioral health system is shifting toward a more compassionate, effective model: meeting people exactly where they are.
Mobile crisis response and intervention represent a critical lifeline on wheels that bridges the gap between a moment of despair and long-term stability.
Providers of these services deliver 24/7 on-site support for both children and adults, regardless of their location. This is particularly critical in a state as rural as Maine, where geographic barriers often prevent individuals from seeking the help they need. By providing care at home, at school or out in the community, mobile crisis teams ensure that help is accessible to everyone.
When mobile crisis specialists arrive on the scene, their first priority is stabilization. They perform vital risk evaluations — assessing for self-harm or suicidal ideation — and conduct mental status exams to determine an individual’s psychological state. Perhaps most importantly, they utilize verbal de-escalation techniques to reduce intense emotions and restore a sense of safety.
This immediate, specialized intervention is a critical lever in the continuum of care. It provides a therapeutic alternative to law enforcement involvement or unnecessary hospitalization.
The impact of these services is measurable. In the past year, Sweetser — the state’s largest provider of mobile crisis services — supported over 3,400 interventions. By stabilizing individuals in their natural environment, these teams significantly reduce the burden on Maine’s emergency rooms. Instead of waiting hours in an ER for a psychiatric evaluation, individuals receive immediate care from trained crisis counselors who can then connect them to longer-term treatment options or crisis residential units (CRUs).
Accessing this support is now as simple as remembering three digits: 988. Much like we have been trained to call 911 for physical health emergencies, 988 is now the universal number for mental health support. It is a free, confidential, 24/7 hotline available via call, text or online chat.
In Maine, 988 acts as the gateway to the entire crisis system, connecting those in distress with trained counselors and, when necessary, local mobile crisis response teams. This replaces the longer state crisis line to make it easier to remember.
Whether you are worried about a loved one, struggling with thoughts of self-harm or feeling bouts of hopelessness, 988 is the mental health version of 911 that ensures you don’t have to face the darkness alone. For those requiring more intensive support, these calls can lead to a short-term stay at a crisis residential unit, where the focus remains on stabilization and healing in a home-like environment.
When you call 988, you will first navigate a pre-recorded menu and brief hold music before being connected to a trained counselor who will introduce themselves and immediately assess your safety. Once safety is established, the counselor provides a supportive space to listen to your concerns, help you understand your situation and share helpful resources or connect you to local mobile crisis teams if needed.
The message to Mainers is clear: you are not alone. Hope and healing are always available — 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
When you’re navigating an emotional storm and aren’t sure where to turn, remember that you don’t have to have all the answers to reach out for support. Think of 988 as your mental health compass to get back on track.
By investing in and utilizing these mobile services, we are building a Maine where mental health care is not just a destination, but a promise that help will meet you wherever you are.