diff --git a/src/data/threads.js b/src/data/threads.js
index fbefdb2..946d65d 100644
--- a/src/data/threads.js
+++ b/src/data/threads.js
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ function getHeaderGuildInfo(member) {
  * @property {Message} [message] Original DM message that is trying to start the thread, if there is one
  * @property {string} [categoryId] Category where to open the thread
  * @property {string} [source] A string identifying the source of the new thread
+ * @property {string} [mentionRole] Override the mentionRole option for this thread
  */
 
 /**
@@ -217,11 +218,18 @@ async function createNewThreadForUser(user, opts = {}) {
 
     if (! quiet) {
       // Ping moderators of the new thread
-      const staffMention = utils.getInboxMention();
+      const staffMention = opts.mentionRole
+        ? utils.mentionRolesToMention(utils.getValidMentionRoles(opts.mentionRole))
+        : utils.getInboxMention();
+
       if (staffMention.trim() !== "") {
+        const allowedMentions = opts.mentionRole
+          ? utils.mentionRolesToAllowedMentions(utils.getValidMentionRoles(opts.mentionRole))
+          : utils.getInboxMentionAllowedMentions();
+
         await newThread.postNonLogMessage({
           content: `${staffMention}New modmail thread (${newThread.user_name})`,
-          allowedMentions: utils.getInboxMentionAllowedMentions(),
+          allowedMentions,
         });
       }
     }
diff --git a/src/utils.js b/src/utils.js
index cba844b..8fe1770 100644
--- a/src/utils.js
+++ b/src/utils.js
@@ -251,15 +251,25 @@ function convertDelayStringToMS(str) {
   return ms;
 }
 
-function getValidMentionRoles() {
-  const mentionRoles = Array.isArray(config.mentionRole) ? config.mentionRole : [config.mentionRole];
+/**
+ * @param {string|string[]} mentionRoles
+ * @returns {string[]}
+ */
+function getValidMentionRoles(mentionRoles) {
+  if (! Array.isArray(mentionRoles)) {
+    mentionRoles = [mentionRoles];
+  }
+
   return mentionRoles.filter(roleStr => {
     return (roleStr !== null && roleStr !== "none" && roleStr !== "off" && roleStr !== "");
   });
 }
 
-function getInboxMention() {
-  const mentionRoles = getValidMentionRoles();
+/**
+ * @param {string[]} mentionRoles
+ * @returns {string}
+ */
+function mentionRolesToMention(mentionRoles) {
   const mentions = [];
   for (const role of mentionRoles) {
     if (role === "here") mentions.push("@here");
@@ -269,8 +279,19 @@ function getInboxMention() {
   return mentions.join(" ") + " ";
 }
 
-function getInboxMentionAllowedMentions() {
-  const mentionRoles = getValidMentionRoles();
+/**
+ * @returns {string}
+ */
+function getInboxMention() {
+  const mentionRoles = getValidMentionRoles(config.mentionRole);
+  return mentionRolesToMention(mentionRoles);
+}
+
+/**
+ * @param {string[]} mentionRoles
+ * @returns {object}
+ */
+function mentionRolesToAllowedMentions(mentionRoles) {
   const allowedMentions = {
     everyone: false,
     roles: [],
@@ -284,6 +305,14 @@ function getInboxMentionAllowedMentions() {
   return allowedMentions;
 }
 
+/**
+ * @returns {object}
+ */
+function getInboxMentionAllowedMentions() {
+  const mentionRoles = getValidMentionRoles(config.mentionRole);
+  return mentionRolesToAllowedMentions(mentionRoles);
+}
+
 function postSystemMessageWithFallback(channel, thread, text) {
   if (thread) {
     thread.postSystemMessage(text);
@@ -484,8 +513,13 @@ module.exports = {
   getMainRole,
   delayStringRegex,
   convertDelayStringToMS,
+
+  getValidMentionRoles,
+  mentionRolesToMention,
   getInboxMention,
+  mentionRolesToAllowedMentions,
   getInboxMentionAllowedMentions,
+
   postSystemMessageWithFallback,
 
   chunk,