Anchorage’s Mobile Crisis Team hopes funding to operate 24/7 will expand ability to address mental health crises

Alaska NPR

Anchorage’s Mobile Crisis Team just got a call from dispatch.

“Sounds like possibly a panic attack that’s happening just down the street from us, actually,” Jennifer Pierce said on a recent Friday, about four hours into her 10-hour shift.

Pierce is a licensed clinician and part of a two-person team tasked with addressing mental health crises in Anchorage. For the last year, the Mobile Crisis Team, or MCT, has been on the streets, responding to mental health crises. A few months ago, it got funding from the city to operate 24/7.

Anchorage’s Mobile Crisis Team hopes funding to operate 24/7 will expand ability to address mental health crises