Gaston County Boosts Mental Health Crisis Response

Gaston County Emergency Medical Services (GEMS) is set to enhance its mental and behavioral health crisis response capabilities following a $300,000 grant from the North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services Rural Health Transformation Program. This significant funding will be instrumental in establishing a dedicated Crisis Intervention Unit.

The primary objective of this new unit is to improve the continuity of care for individuals experiencing mental health crises. Officials state it will also help reduce the strain on ambulances and other public safety resources, especially within the more rural sections of Gaston County.

The grant will facilitate the hiring and specialized training of four GEMS personnel. These professionals will focus on responding to 911 calls related to mental health emergencies, including suicidal ideation. Their training will encompass crisis intervention, de-escalation, and navigation to community-based treatment and support services.

This initiative expands Gaston County's existing Community Paramedicine Program, which began in 2021. That program already provides substance use intervention and medication-assisted treatment. The new unit will collaborate with the Hope United Survivor Network to further strengthen these services.