Austin’s First Mental Health Pilot Program Launches Downtown
A New Approach to Mental Health Crises in Austin
The city of Austin is taking a bold step forward in addressing mental health crises by launching a groundbreaking pilot program. This initiative, known as “Austin FIRST,” aims to intervene early when individuals are in crisis, preventing situations from escalating further.
What is Austin FIRST?
Austin FIRST is the first program of its kind in the United States that brings together a specialized team to handle high-acuity mental health incidents. The collaboration involves the Austin Police Department, Integral Care, and Austin-Travis County EMS. These groups are working together to respond to cases where individuals are experiencing a mental health crisis and there is significant agitation or a potential threat of violence.
Dr. Mark Escott, the City of Austin’s Chief Medical Officer, emphasized the uniqueness of this approach. “We’re the first entity in the United States that we know of that’s bringing this team together for these high acuity incidents,” he said.
The Pilot Program
The pilot program began with a soft launch that lasted for two weeks, during which the team was already very active. “This team has responded to multiple individuals experiencing a crisis. Some of those individuals needed to be detained and taken for a psychiatric evaluation. There have been other circumstances where there was a combination of a psychiatric emergency plus a medical emergency,” Dr. Escott explained.
The six-month pilot will operate Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., focusing on downtown Austin. According to Dr. Escott, these are the peak times when the city sees the most calls related to mental health crises.
Team Composition and Training
The Austin FIRST team is highly trained in trauma-informed care, de-escalation techniques, emergency medical support, and cross-disciplinary response. The team members include mental health professionals, police officers, and emergency medical personnel.
“Generally, our integral care folks and our EMS folks staging down the road from where the incident happens until APD can stabilize the scene of this team because they train together and work together, they can be on the scene and maximize that opportunity for de-escalation from the very beginning,” Dr. Escott added.
Impact of Previous Initiatives
Since 2019, the city has been adding mental-health experts to its 911 call center, which has led to significant improvements. Emergency detentions have decreased by 58%, arrests by 62%, and officer time on scene by 66%. However, officials believe more support is needed for higher acuity calls in the field.
“We can hopefully create a new solution to address this complex issue,” said Dr. Escott. “With three different areas of expertise brought together in one response unit.”
Future Plans
The pilot program will run for the next six months. After that, city leaders will review the outcomes to determine what worked well and what needs improvement. This initiative represents a significant shift in how the city approaches mental health crises, emphasizing early intervention and collaboration across different sectors.
- Peluang Undiksha Jadi Kampus Dunia, Akan Jadi Perguruan Tinggi Negeri Berbadan Hukum - December 2, 2025
- Apakah Anda Harus Berolahraga Saat Menderita Biduran? - December 2, 2025
- The Shocking Truth: Parkinson’s Is Mostly Preventable—And the Cause Is Everywhere - December 2, 2025
Leave a Reply