Resource Library

Eventually I will have a fancy library of publications, presentations, and other media.  In the meantime, here are a few resources that people are often asking me for.  

**Slides**

Here are my two most requested presentations:

  1. Crisis systems overview
  2. Crisis quality measurement 

You’re welcome to borrow slides but please let me know and include attribution.  (If you select paste in the slide sidebar, choose “keep source formatting” and it will keep the template and my info at the bottom of the slide.)

SAMHSA definitions and guidelines: First ever federal definitions for the various levels of crisis care. This helps lay the foundation for building sustainable, consistent, high quality crisis systems like we expect for medical emergencies.  Proud to have contributed!

Roadmap Reports: These reports were released by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, with me as a contributor  

Selected publications: Scholarly articles in the academic literature:

  1. Balfour ME, Tanner K, Jurica JS, Rhoads R, Carson CA. (2016). Crisis Reliability Indicators Supporting Emergency Services (CRISES): A Framework for Developing Performance Measures for Behavioral Health Crisis and Psychiatric Emergency Programs. Community Mental Health Journal, 52(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-015-9954-5
  2. Balfour ME, Winsky JM and Isely JM. (2017). The Tucson Mental Health Investigative Support Team (MHIST) Model: A prevention focused approach to crisis and public safety.  Psychiatric Services, 68(2), 211–212. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.68203
  3. Balfour ME, Tanner K, Jurica JS, Llewellyn D, Williamson RG, Carson CA. (2017). Using Lean to Rapidly Transform a Behavioral Health Crisis Program: Impact on Throughput and Safety. Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, 43(6), 275-283. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcjq.2017.03.008
  4. Balfour ME, Zinn T, Cason K, Fox J, Morales M, Berdeja C, Gray J. (2018). Provider-Payer Partnerships as an Engine for Continuous Quality Improvement, Psychiatric Services, 69(6), 623-625. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201700533
  5. Balfour ME, Hahn Stephenson A, Delany-Brumsey A, Winsky J, & Goldman ML (2022). Cops, Clinicians, or Both? Collaborative Approaches to Responding to Behavioral Health Emergencies. Psychiatric Services. 2022 Jun;73(6):658-669. Epub 2021 Oct 20. http://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.202000721
  6. Balfour ME and Zeller SL. (2023). The Crisis Continuum: Community-Based Crisis Services, Crisis Facilities, and Partnerships with EMS & Law Enforcement. FOCUS. 2023 21:18-27. http://doi.org/10.1176/appi.focus.20220074
  7. Tomovic M, Balfour ME, Cho T, Prathap N, Harootunian G, Mehreen R, Ostrovsky A, Goldman ML. (2024) Patient Flow and Reutilization of Crisis Services Within 30 Days in a Comprehensive Crisis System. Psychiatric Services. 2024 Jul 1;75(7):614-621. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.20230232
  8. Balfour ME and Carson CA. (2024). Crisis Receiving and Stabilization Facilities: Designing Systems for High-Acuity Populations. Psychiatric Clinics of North America. 2024 Sep;47(3):511-30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psc.2024.04.022
  9. McConnell KJ, Yang CW, Meat THA, Edmonds A, Miller BF, Balfour ME. (2026). Crisis Stabilization Unit Use for Behavioral Health Visits Among Medicaid Enrollees.JAMA Health Forum, 7(5), e260986. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamahealthforum.2026.0986
  10. Full list from PubMed

Psychiatric Clinics special issue on Crisis Services, which I co-edited.  Most of it’s behind a paywall so email me if you can’t get access and want a specific article.

My published articles.  Most are open access but email me if you can’t access 

Youtube videos