Tucson Police Mental Health Support Team (MHST)

If you're in crisis right now, please call 911 or the 24-hour Crisis Line, 1-866-495-6735 (TDD/TTY: 1-877-613-2076)

The Tucson Police Department Mental Health Support Team (MHST) has two goals

1) Reduce the number of incarcerated people with mental illness and addiction by acting as an entry point into mental health and substance use treatment.

2) Prevent incidents through early intervention and speedy and thorough follow-up.

History

Established in January 2014, TPD's MHST represents a philosophical shift in law enforcement's response to incidents involving mental health and substance use disorder. After several high profile incidents nationally (as well as in Tucson), along with an opioid epidemic, law enforcement agencies recognized that some incidents may be prevented through early intervention with mental health and substance use disorder treatment.

The MHST Unit also serves mental health court orders, freeing patrol officers for other public safety tasks.