Psychiatric emergency response teams get OK by Senate committee amid mental health update

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Health Committee lawmakers approved a previously tabled measure to provide mobile mental health crisis intervention services through a Psychiatric Emergency Response Team — or PERT — and development of the 9-8-8 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

Bill sponsor Sen. Diane Capehart called on her colleagues to start working “on the infrastructure to improve the quality of life for individuals who are having a dark time in their life.”

Following the vote, lawmakers received a sprawling and extensive review of mental and psychiatric health care and services from community stakeholders, including representatives from the V.I. Health and Human Services departments, Schneider and Luis Hospitals, Frederiksted Health Care, St. Thomas East End Medical Center, and multiple territory nonprofits dedicated to the treatment of mental health and substance abuse.