PROTECTIVE CUSTODY Helping those in crisis sooner
Omaha World-HeraldNov 27, 2017
Two new ideas have been offered that could help people in mental health crisis avoid the risks of law enforcement intervention and ease the burden of mental health response on officers and taxpayers. These ideas from the
The first proposal involves the authority to commit someone to emergency protective custody - compulsory, short-term mental health treatment for people considered a danger to themselves or others. Law enforcement officers exercise that power. The city and county are proposing that mental health practitioners also be given that authority.
The proposal, which is being discussed with legislators, would limit the authority to people licensed to practice medicine or psychology and to nurses with certification or specializations in mental health or a related field.
The second proposal is for the state to allow border cities, counties and towns to access available beds for emergency protective custody use across state lines.
The city and county should find a receptive audience among state senators across the state. Nearly every law enforcement agency faces waves of calls responding to people in mental health crisis.
Having professionally trained mental health practitioners weigh in before a person escalates to the point that a police response might be needed could build trust with providers and improve outcomes for patients and law enforcement officers.
Having access to more beds when local ones are full could help, as well. It's noteworthy that neither proposal appears to add much, if anything, to the state's costs.
City Councilman
Festersen told
"The encouraging thing is there seems to be acknowledgment here .
.
. that this is the direction we need to be going," Festersen said.
These two steps, while far from a full solution to the challenges of helping those suffering mental health crises, will start a broader conversation about the issues involved and what can be done.