GOV
911 Call Diversion
The 911 Call Diversion program diverts 911 calls involving people actively experiencing a behavioral health crisis to crisis counselors or mental health specialists in order to deescalate the situation and connect individuals to the appropriate behavioral health services.
Program Overview
911 Crisis Call Diversion Specialist (CCDS)
Behavioral Health Response’s 911 Crisis Call Diversion Specialists work alongside the St. Louis Metropolitan 911 Communication Center’s answering operators to intercept calls and avoid unnecessary dispatching of emergency personnel. The CCDS program aims to decrease unnecessary hospitalization by connecting with callers to assess and address their mental health needs. They de-escalate crises to divert individuals from unnecessary hospitalization, provide callers with information about community resources, and follow up with them to connect them with long-term support services as needed. If appropriate, CCDS can also dispatch Community Centered Crisis Response Teams (C3RT) to aid individuals experiencing a crisis.
Program Eligibility
Services provided by the 911 Call Diversion program are available to any person, including a juvenile, that is: Experiencing a behavioral health crisis and/or Not an immediate threat to others Not in possession of a weapon Not actively harming another person
Program Contact Information
The 911 Call Diversion program services are available 24/7. Individuals can access services by calling 911 or by calling the BHR Crisis Hotline directly at 988.
