Sheriff

Mental Health Co-Responder Unit

Do you need help navigating a mental health crisis?

If you are currently having thoughts of suicide or experiencing a mental health crisis, call 911 now.

To contact the on-duty Co-Responder team, please call (970) 416-1985.

Not sure where to start? Click here to find the best resource.
Mental Health Resources

Not sure where to start?  Find local Mental Health Resources here

Navigating a Mental Health Crisis

A NAMI resource guide for those experiencing a mental health emergency

The Larimer County Sheriff’s Office Co-Responder Unit (CRU) is a specialized unit within the Operations Division. 

  • Responds to calls for service to help de-escalate crisis and critical situations
  • Helps people experiencing crisis and their loved ones
  • Connects people with necessary, life-saving crisis resources

The unit was formed in direct response to a growing community need for crisis intervention in mental health and substance use, or co-occurring conditions. The Co-Responder Unit works with clinicians from SummitStone Health Partners to support community members.

Co-responder Unit members are specifically selected for their knowledge, skills, and abilities in effective communication, active listening, and de-escalation. They all have a strong desire to serve and make a positive difference in the lives of those experiencing a mental health illness or emotional crisis.

Our goal is to help, not harm.

Please contact us at (970) 498-5139 or via email at sheriff-co-responders@co.larimer.co.us. Our Co-Responder Unit can help you navigate local resources or provide crisis intervention assistance to you or a loved one. If this is an emergency, please call 911.

FAQs

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  1. What happens when I call the co-responder team?

    If it is an emergency, call 911 to speak directly to a dispatcher, and they will make sure the closest resource is sent to you. If you call our non-emergent Co-Response number, 970-498-5139, we will call you back as soon as possible to discuss the situation. 

    Once a unit is dispatched, a Co-Responder team member may reach out by phone initially and/or may arrive in person to help. This team usually arrives in an unmarked patrol car. The team member will evaluate the situation and determine if a mental health hold is appropriate. If a mental health hold is necessary, either a member of the Co-Response team or an ambulance will transport the person in crisis to the nearest facility that can provide care and safety for the duration of the crisis. If a mental health hold is not necessary, the team will help to problem solve, make a safety plan with everyone involved, and connect them with resources for moving forward. 
     

  2. Will this cost me anything?

    There is no cost for Co-Responder team services. there may be costs depending on further treatment/resources individuals may engage in. You can discuss the options with your co-responder team.

  3. What is a mental health hold (M1)?

    Colorado Law allows a certified Peace Officer, or a licensed Clinician, to order a person to be evaluated by a licensed mental health doctor for up to 72 hours, when there is evidence to support that the person is an imminent danger to themselves, to others, or gravely disabled, as a result of a mental health crisis. 

    Colorado Law recognizes that a mental health crisis is not a crime and that someone suffering a mental health crisis does not deserve to be criminally arrested. Unless accompanied by arrestable criminal charges, a person being placed on a mental health hold, must not be detained in jail, lockup, or any other place used to detain people charged for a crime. Any person placed on a mental health hold must be taken to a facility designed to provide care such as a hospital or mental health crisis center. In Larimer County, several facilities provide such care, including Longview Crisis Center, Poudre Valley Hospital, Medical Center of the Rockies, and Banner Health Hospital. 

    Link to Colorado Revised Statute 27-65-106: Emergency Mental Health Hold
    Link to Colorado Revised Statue 27-65-102: Definitions
     

  4. My friend/family member has been placed on a mental health hold... now what?

    Placing someone on a mental health hold can be quite stressful for everyone involved. A mental health hold does not mean the person in crisis does not have rights. The full list of rights can be found here.

    After the mental health hold is initiated, it is reviewed by the attending doctor at the facility the individual is transported to. The facility has up to 72 hours to determine if further care is needed. Usually, the two main factors that contribute to the length of the evaluation are intoxication and severity of the crisis. 

    Once the attending physician has completed the evaluation, the doctor determines if the person needs further care, and can order a short term placement at a facility specifically intended to provide such care for up to three months. This short term placement is then presented to the local court for review. The court is required to immediately appoint an attorney to represent the person and may request a hearing be held within 10 business days to determine if the certification must be maintained, dismissed, or modified.

  5. Who has access to information regarding a mental health call or hold?

    It is the policy of the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office to keep mental health information and substance use information private. 

    A record of the call is maintained in the dispatch system and maybe an official report as required by state law. However, these records are not released to anyone who does not have both the right to know, and the need to know what occurred. All requests for any such information must be made through the records department of the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office. For example, an employer does not have the need to know what occurred. No details of any information will be released without the person’s permission, unless the case of a public safety concern of an imminent threat is validated.

    Any evaluation completed by the licensed clinician concerning mental health is recorded in a medical database which is protected by all HIPPA regulations. Any evaluation completed by a licensed clinician concerning any substance use, is protected by provisions in 42CFR Part 2- Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder Patient Records.

  6. What can I do if my family member/loved one needs help, but doesn't want it?

    First, please call our team. There are a lot of resources available to support you through these tough times. We can help you find the right resource for your situation. 

    Second, a large list of resources are maintained here on our website. If you want to research more yourself, please click here. The list is constantly being updated as new resources become available. 

Larimer County Co-Responder Team

Contact the Larimer County Co-Responder Team here:

(970) 498-5139

sheriff-co-responders@co.larimer.co.us