Mental health crisis assistance for police expanding to other Southland agencies
The SouthtownStarSep 03, 2021
Sep. 3—A program where
In concert with Trinity Services,
The program has "been a phenomenal success so far," said police Chief
Based in
Trinity counselors are available by phone and in some instances in person to assist in field calls to those other departments. In the coming weeks, as part of a federal grant, officers in those departments will be given tablets where they can connect with Trinity personnel on the scene.
"Since COVID, a lot of people have turned to telemedicine, and this is instantaneous connection with a health professional," said
They are out with officers and can start building a rapport with the person in crisis, Mitchell said.
"They try to attempt to resolve the issue at the scene," he said.
In
She said that conflicts between parents and their children, as well people with more long-term chronic mental health issues, represent the majority of calls involving Trinity counselors. After the initial police response, Trinity will follow up with the person or their family, Hassan said.
"The point is, how to do we get people to the treatment that they need and that in the future they know of alternative ways to get help," she said.
More often than not, hospitalization can mean an hourslong wait in a hospital emergency room, and by the time someone is seen the crisis may have passed, Hassan said.
Mitchell said having the in-field consultation has decreased hospitalizations for those people officers come in contact with, and has reduced downtime for police. He said that an officer involved in a hospitalization might be tied up for three or four hours.
"We are able to have officers back on the street in a short amount of time working on responding to criminal activity," he said.
Mitchell said officers are not experts in mental health issues, and working with Trinity's counselors has given them that additional help.
"For families, they don't know who to contact in a crisis except for the police," he said. "We don't want to incarcerate somebody with a mental health issue."
Sheriff begins program
Similar to the
Launched by the sheriff late last year, the program is staffed by licensed mental health professionals and, similar to the
The sheriff has called the
The virtual assistance program provides near instantaneous response to mental health professionals around the clock for sheriff's police and now
Dart's office said that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, calls for mental health service have steadily increased.
In 2018, sheriff's police responded to more than 1,200 calls for service involving mental health, and this year the number is expected to exceed 1,800.
In 2015, the
It was also among the first departments in the nation to sign on with the
Mitchell said the department will get a therapy dog later this month that could also be used in instances where police are called to address a mental health issue.
Earlier this year, Trinity opened a Living Room in
"More and more, people who are struggling with mental health issues, there are not a lot of places where you can just walk in," Hassan said.
Operated through the
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Trinity's is a nonclinical place where people can walk in and talk with counselors, Hassan said.
Hassan who has been with Trinity since 1999, said she is seeing more partnerships around the country between law enforcement and mental health professionals.
"The more often we are working together to help the person, it helps the person, it helps the community," she said. "Ultimately the goal is the same — we want people to be safe and their goals met."
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