HVMHC Emphasizes Access to 24/7 Mobile Crisis Response Services

Winona, Minn – Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center (HVMHC) continues to highlight the reach and accessibility of its Mobile Crisis Response program, which provides immediate behavioral health crisis support across Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Wabasha, and Winona counties.

Since January 2025, HVMHC has served as the sole provider of mobile crisis response services in the region, ensuring consistent, locally based response for individuals and families experiencing behavioral health crises. The Mobile Crisis Response team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and connects callers directly with trained, local behavioral health practitioners.

The service is delivered at no cost to the caller and ensures that anyone in our five-county region, regardless of age—who is experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis, can access immediate support, whether in person or by phone. By providing timely, person-centered care, we help save lives, keep individuals connected to their communities, and reduce unnecessary emergency room visits and law enforcement involvement.

Access to Crisis Support

Individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis have multiple ways to access support. Individuals may contact HVMHC’s Mobile Crisis Response team directly at 1-844-CRISIS2 (1-844-274-7472). Calls to this number are routed immediately to HVMHC mobile crisis response staff.

Calling or texting 988 also connects individuals anywhere in the United States to the national Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Calls are routed to the local crisis call center nearest to the caller’s location.

Both the HVMHC direct line and 988 are effective entry points for mobile crisis response, and individuals may use whichever option is most accessible in the moment.

A local system designed for timely response

HVMHC’s Mobile Crisis Response team responds to a wide range of behavioral health crises, including emotional distress, suicidal ideation, and urgent behavioral health and substance use needs. Because the team is locally based, responders understand the communities they serve and can provide timely, coordinated support across the five-county region.

“Our focus is on connecting people with a local mobile crisis responder, either in person or by telephone, as quickly as possible,” said Jen Dieck, Director of the Mobile Crisis Response Team at HVMHC. “Whether you call our direct crisis line during the middle of the day or at 3:00 a.m., you will be connected with trained staff who will listen without judgment, assess the situation, help determine what support is necessary, and coordinate next steps to ensure you receive the care you need.”

A Community Perspective

Winona County resident Lee Seeling shared her experience reaching out to the Mobile Crisis Response line during a difficult moment.

“I had the number in front of me, but I kept hesitating,” Seeling said. “I called and hung up a few times before I finally let it ring.”

When the call was answered, she said the hesitation gave way to relief.

“Once someone picked up, I didn’t feel like I had to figure everything out on my own,” she said. “They helped me slow down, talk through what was happening, and start putting a plan together.”

Seeling said the experience helped her regain a sense of control.

“It wasn’t that everything was fixed right away,” she said. “It was that I wasn’t alone in it anymore.”

About Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center

Founded in 1965, Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center (HVMHC) provides comprehensive behavioral health services to individuals and families across Southeastern Minnesota. The organization is committed to delivering compassionate, person-centered care and fostering wellness in every community it serves.

For more information about HVMHC’s services, visit www.hvmhc.org. To schedule an appointment, individuals can call 1-800-657-6777 or visit www.hvmhc.org/contact/make-an-appointment.