Nate, an LSSI professional mobile crisis counselor, heads to a junior high where a 12-year-old boy, Joshua*, has threatened to kill one of his classmates.
Nate’s day will be filled with similar calls, mostly from schools. He has just left a high school where he met with a 16 year-old student who had threatened to self-harm. The demand for mental health care for young people has skyrocketed since the pandemic. When a student is in crisis, the school calls Lutheran Social Services of Illinois’ (LSSI) Mobile Crisis Line.
Nate explains that every threat is taken seriously. “The student said one of the three magic words that will guarantee a mobile crisis response: ‘suicide, kill, shoot.’ Even if teachers and administration staff are relatively certain the threat isn’t serious, they will ask us to come out and do an assessment.”
He arrives at the junior high school, and Joshua is called in to join him in the counselor’s office. Joshua averts his eyes and volunteers little information.
Nate has already been told that Joshua became upset during a chess game. He forcibly pounded the board with his fist and said, “I’m going to kill you!”
Mobile crisis workers don’t mince words.
Nate: “First of all, I want you to know that you are not in trouble. I’m here only because your teachers want to make sure you have the help you need.
“I’ve heard about what happened during the chess game. Do you know why you behaved that way?”
Looking down, Joshua says in a low voice, “I have rage issues.”
After many one-word answers to Nate’s questions, the real issue comes out. Joshua is being bullied by other students calling him names. He reacted violently out of frustration. He never seriously meant to kill anyone.
During his assessment, Joshua says his greatest support comes from his parents and his siblings. This is a bit surprising to Nate. He says, “Most of the kids we see come from one-parent households. It’s unusual for one to live with an intact family. I spoke to Joshua’s mother before I got here—she had no idea her son was having problems in school.”
Joshua received a mental health assessment and a safety plan because of Nate’s mobile crisis visit. Just as important, his parents became aware of their child’s mental health issues and can participate in his treatment. Nate receives another call and heads out to meet with the next young person in crisis, and Joshua’s path has been changed.
Mobile crisis counselors have the skills and experience to recognize severe trauma. In many cases, they can predict whether troubling behavior will escalate into something more dangerous. This intervention helps keep children safe.
*Name changed for privacy.
