The Minnesota Department of Human Services has awarded an additional $3 million to add seven more mobile mental health crisis teams in the state.

These rapid-response professionals offer services to help people experiencing psychiatric emergencies, no matter where they're located.

Human services department Deputy Commissioner Chuck Johnson said mobile crisis teams respond rapidly to adults or children in crisis and help link them to mental health services.

"(It) prevents people from ending up in the hospital, can prevent people from ending up in jail," he said. "It really allows the crisis to be dealt with as quickly and immediately as possible."

The new teams will be added in counties that previously lacked them, Johnson said. The expansion brings the number of mobile crisis teams to 34 and extends coverage to all 87 counties.

Funding for the new teams was approved by the 2015 Legislature.