AMERICAN LEGION POST #14 - BOZEMAN, MONTANA

Crisis Therapist Karen Patty and Community Support Specialist Karen Young 

WESTERN MONTANA MENTAL HEALTH CENTER

Community-based Crisis Response Program

The community-based crisis response program started as a pilot in January when Gallatin Mental Health Center hired Karen Patty. Since then, officers and deputies have worked with the center on how to co-respond to calls. They hope people eventually reach out to the response team before there is an emergency.

First responders can call into dispatch to ask for Patty to join calls where she’ll provide care on scene for people in a mental health crisis.

The mental health center has also hired Karen Young to connect people impacted by a crisis to services long after the call for help went out. That includes the person experiencing a health issue and their family or friendsople in a mental health crisis. She’ll evaluate their condition and make sure they have follow-up services.