We were so excited when we heard from Integral Care about their idea to make mental healthcare more accessible to the unhoused and people all over Austin with Mobile Behavioral Healthcare Clinics. We were happy to pitch in to buy the first such unit — which we got to tour last week! The van will be on regular routes with partners like Sunrise Navigation and also be able to respond quickly to people in crisis. They will have the ability to treat, diagnose, dispense medicines as well as provide support and care in the form of medical professionals and supplies when appropriate. We loved that they even plan to have dog food on board — they are really thinking about the lived experiences of the people they serve! They are in need of at least 4 more vans to meet demand, so we are hoping we can get more community support around this innovative idea to provide critical mental healthcare.
If you’re in Austin and in need of emergency support, you can call Integral Care at 512-472-HELP (4357) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Press 1 for English, then 1 for mental health crisis support. Toll Free: 844-398-8252 TTY: 512-703-1395
