Did you know that Minnesota loses 100 Veterans a year to suicide?

At First Call for Help of Itasca County, we join with the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA), and grieve the loss of these comrades, sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters. Our Veteran Crisis Response Team works endlessly to reach veterans, and Veteran Service Member Families, in crisis and provide not only intervention but on-going support and stabilization services, from our Veteran Team to Veterans in Crisis. While we alone cannot prevent all Veteran suicide, we are committed to doing all we can to raise awareness of this tragedy and to educate the community about how we can all work together to support Veterans in crisis and avoid this tragic outcome.

The Veterans Mobile Crisis Response Team of Itasca County has proudly provided Crisis Response Service to Veterans and Service Member Families, who are experiencing Mental Health Emergencies, since 2019.

At First Call for Help of Itasca County, we grieve the loss of fellow comrades, sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, to suicide. Our Veteran Crisis Response Team works endlessly to reach veterans, and Veteran Service Member Families in crisis and provide not only intervention but support and stabilization services. We are committed to doing all we can to raise awareness of this tragedy and to continuously tailor our program to support the needs of Veterans in crisis.

Our mission: Serving our fellow Veterans and reducing the lives lost to suicide, through the deliver Crisis Response Services. Serving any Veteran, at any time, at any location…..is our MISSION!

Are you a Veterans Administration (VA) Program: No, We are program within the First Call for Help agency, which is a non-profit program located in Itasca County.

What is a Veterans Mobile Crisis Team: Our team is comprised of Veterans who have been trained in Crisis Intervention to respond by phone and in person, to Veterans and /or Service Member Families who are experiencing mental health emergencies. Our team responds 24 hours per day/ 7 days per week to provide rapid response services to fellow Veterans in mental health crisis or distress.  This Mobile Crisis Teams is uniquely trained to deliver early interventions, resolve crisis situations, and link Veterans to needed services. Our services help to ensure those we serve get the needed level of care at the right time and ensure the person’s safety.

Who do you serve: Individuals who have served or are currently serving in the U.S Military, Reserves, Coast Guard or National Guard, regardless of length of service or discharge type.

What Services do you provide: Crisis Assessments, Crisis Intervention Services, Community Based Stabilization Services, Active Listening, Resourcing and Linking to Support Services. We carefully tailor our services to the needs of each Veteran we serve.

When is the right time to call: The reasons for your mental health crisis — just like your mental health — are unique to you. What a crisis is for one person might not be for another. Examples of symptoms that might prompt you to consider calling our team may be: Anxiety, Depression, Feeling Overwhelmed, Flashbacks, Thoughts of Self Harm, Thoughts of Suicide, Survivor’s Guilt, Post Traumatic Stress, or intense distress due to Military Sexual Trauma (MST). You do NOT need to be suicidal to access Mobile Crisis Services. We are here to support Veterans experiencing any level or Mental Health distress or crisis.

What are the costs related to this program: Our mobile team delivers services to all residents regardless of their ability to pay. Medical Insurance is billed if available. Services rendered by our Mobile Team are voluntary.

What is your service area: Our team responds within the boundaries of the County of Itasca, which includes communities of the Leech Lake Reservation and a catchment area of Northern Aitkin County (Hill City, Swatara, Shovel Lake and Jacobson). Our response locations include, but are not limited to: Private Homes, Schools, Emergency Rooms, Hospitals, Jail, Clinics, Churches, Residential Homes, Public Community Locations, Detox Centers, Assisted Living facilities, Homeless Shelters, etc.

Who do you partner with: With permission from each Veteran, our team works closely with Itasca County Veterans Services Office, Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA), Itasca County Veterans Assoc, Veterans Administration, VFW’s, hospitals, medical providers, mental health providers, law enforcement,  faith leaders, community resource partners, and the Itasca County Health and Human services in efforts to enhance and expedite services when eligible.

In October 2023 our team received The Veteran of Foreign Wars of the United States “Life Saving Award” in recognition and sincere appreciation of the teams prompt and selfless life-saving action.