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Santa Cruz County's new mental health service on wheels

The van used by Santa Cruz County's "Mobile Emergency Response Team for Youth.”
The van used by Santa Cruz County's "Mobile Emergency Response Team for Youth.”
Jennifer Hodges/KCBS Radio

Santa Cruz County introduced a mobile mental health service for children and young adults earlier this week called MERTY or "Mobile Emergency Response Team for Youth."

The response team is made up of mental health professionals that drive around Santa Cruz County in a large campervan, helping kids and young adults dealing with mental health issues, which are on the rise.


"We do know that we've seen an increase especially lately with schools reopening with youth that are seeking crisis services," explained Cassandra Eslami, Director of Community Engagement for Santa Cruz County Behavioral Health Services. "So it's actually a behavioral health office on wheels. We have seating for both caregivers and parents as well as youth. (We also have) a bilingual clinician and a family partner on board."

"Sometimes we won't just be working with the child who needs the assistance, we will be working with the whole family unit and offering services to the parents to help them with their skills," added Janet Garcia, a family specialist who works on board MERTY.

The county has already secured another grant in order to purchase a second MERTY vehicle.