Crisis Care Without Barriers
In 2025, Citizen Advocates significantly strengthened the behavioral health safety net in St. Lawrence County by launching its 24/7 Crisis Hotline and Mobile Crisis Team—ensuring help is available anytime, anywhere for individuals and families facing mental health or addiction-related crises.
Residents can access immediate support through the dedicated crisis hotline (315-265-2422), where trained peer specialists offer compassionate, real-time emotional assistance and begin the stabilization process. When situations require added expertise, licensed therapists join the call to guide deescalation and determine the safest, most effective next steps.
Starting in July, the program expanded its capabilities to include in-person crisis intervention through the Mobile Crisis Team. When phone support isn’t enough—such as when safety planning cannot be completed remotely or when a face-to-face connection is clinically necessary—teams are dispatched from Citizen Advocates’ Ogdensburg Behavioral Health Campus to meet individuals in the community. If safety concerns arise, local law enforcement may accompany responders. These on-scene interventions are reinforced by strong partnerships with law enforcement agencies, the Department of Social Services and other community organizations.
“By meeting people where they are, our Mobile Crisis Team makes sure that when someone is struggling, accessible, professional and compassionate support is always within reach,” said Kaitlyn Gervais, Senior Director of Behavioral Health at Citizen Advocates.
Since its launch, the Mobile Crisis Team has delivered consistent, high-quality care, responding to around 15 mobile responses and 80 crisis calls each month. Beyond immediate intervention, the team provides follow-up support within 24 hours, connects individuals to community resources and schedules outpatient care when appropriate. Team members further assist law enforcement through the Office of Mental Health’s Mobile Access Program, providing real time clinical assessments via iPad and helping divert individuals from higher level interventions whenever possible.
No matter the circumstances, the program’s goal remains clear: timely, compassionate crisis support when and where it’s needed most.
