Emergency Psychology: A Mobile Service for Police Crisis Calls

Describes a new 24-hour, 7 day/week emergency treatment centre that backs up 10 police departments in northern California to provide help to people who are experiencing psychological emergencies such as violent family fights, suicide attempts & severe emotional disturbance, & to any crisis call involving adolescents. The population of the area served is approximately 750,000, of whom about 110,000 are adolescents, 10-17 years. Describes communication in handling a crisis call; 2 cases illustrate the process.