Building Houston County's Crisis Response
Updated: Aug 17
Mental Health Matters is working with Houston County public-safety leadership to explore a local co-response model for calls involving a person in crisis. The goal is to build a better response pathway that helps match the person, the need, and the response.
Early planning conversations have included Houston County public-safety leaders, with a vision of pairing a dedicated deputy with a behavioral-health co-responder for appropriate calls involving mental health or behavioral-health needs.
Houston County 988 Snapshot
203 contacts.
203 reasons to keep talking about mental health.
203 reminders that no one should have to navigate a crisis alone.
988 Calls From Houston County since January 2026
Each contact represents someone in our community reaching out during emotional distress, a mental health crisis, a substance-use crisis, or concern for someone they care about.
The 203 figure reflects 988 contacts only. It does not include Houston County 911 calls involving a person in crisis or situations that may have benefited from a behavioral-health co-response. The total community need is therefore larger than the 988 number alone shows.
Knowing When to Use 988 vs. 911
988: Mental Health & Suicide Crisis Support
Use 988 when someone is experiencing emotional distress, suicidal thoughts, a mental health crisis, or a substance-use crisis and there is not an immediate threat requiring emergency public-safety response.
988 can provide crisis counseling, support, and connection to local resources.
911: Immediate Emergency / Public-Safety Response
Use 911 when there is immediate danger, a medical emergency, violence or threat of violence, a weapon, serious injury, or another situation requiring an urgent in-person emergency response.
When mental health is part of the emergency, tell the dispatcher clearly.
When Mental Health Is Part of a 911 Emergency
When Calling 911, say:
“This involves a person in crisis.”
Using clear crisis language can help dispatch understand that behavioral health may be contributing to the emergency and support efforts to get the right response to the right place.
Be prepared to describe what the person is doing, immediate safety concerns, known diagnoses or communication needs if relevant, medications if known, and what has helped calm or support the person in the past.
A Resource Families May Not Know About
Houston County 911 offers a Residential Premise Program that allows families to provide the 911 Communications Center and first responders with helpful information about a person with special needs who lives in the home. The information can help responders better understand the individual’s needs before arriving at an emergency.
Moving the Work Forward
The goal is not simply to create another program. It is to strengthen the response pathway so people experiencing a crisis can be connected more effectively to the help they need.
By bringing public safety, behavioral health, families, and community partners together, Houston County can continue building a more coordinated approach to crisis response.
Take Action
Save 988. Know when to call 911. Get trained. Share the information.
Small actions can help strengthen our community’s response before, during, and after a mental health crisis.
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