The month of May happens to be Mental Health Awareness Month and Law Enforcement Appreciation Month. It’s a time to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health, as well as honor our mental health and law enforcement professionals.
In the past, the intersection of mental health and law enforcement may have been indistinct, but in recent years, there has been a conscious effort to combine both sectors, creating a movement and pushing us to see how we as a nation address mental issues. health crisis in our communities.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness reports that 60% of adults with a mental illness do not receive care. Healthline Media, a health information platform, completed a study of more than 90,000 people worldwide and found that the stigma of mental illness is one of the main reasons for not seeking care. Talking openly about mental health and recognizing that a mental health diagnosis is no different from a medical diagnosis will help us move away from the stigma that has long overshadowed mental illness.
When experiencing a mental health crisis, most people call 911 for help. Although law enforcement officers receive vigorous training, they have historically received little on how to engage with people in the community experiencing a mental health crisis. As a nation, this has been a disservice to both law enforcement and our communities. Law enforcement is not expected to put out fires or respond to medical emergencies, and we should not expect them to be the first or only responders to mental health crisis calls made to 911.
According to the American Psychological Association, at least 20% of police calls involve a mental health or substance use crisis, and that number is likely much higher. Many behavioral health agencies and law enforcement departments across the country are finding creative ways to respond to mental health crises in our communities through partnerships.
In many communities, responding to a mental health crisis is now considered a quarter of public safety, along with law enforcement, emergency medical services (EMS) and fire. If you call 911 in Austin, Texas, for example, the dispatcher who answers the phone will ask if your emergency requires police, fire, EMS, or mental health services. If a person is experiencing a mental health crisis that does not require a law enforcement response, a mobile crisis team is dispatched, usually consisting of a mental health professional and a person with lived experience.
Hegira Health Inc., one of Michigan’s largest behavioral healthcare providers, has partnered with law enforcement in Wayne County since 2018. With a total of 13 partners and five healthcare professionals mental full-time employees in nine departments, Hegira is committed to being part of the solution. . When a 911 call has a mental health component, integrated professionals from police departments respond with or without law enforcement to help de-escalate the crisis and help connect people with treatment options. Mental health professionals can then follow up with these people to reduce the likelihood of future crises and ensure they receive support.
Wayne State University’s Center for Behavioral Health and Justice recently worked with Hegira and an individual police department in Wayne County to evaluate the impact of having an integrated mental health professional. The results showed that when a mental health professional is involved in a crisis response, up to 92% of people are linked to care, 64% fewer people are transported to a hospital and 82% does not require any use of control or force.
The intersection of law enforcement and mental health is more relevant now than ever, and these ongoing partnerships are vital to a successful response in working with individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. As we all fight stigma and are fierce advocates for people with mental illness, the vision for responding to the crisis will become a reality.
About the Author Jody Drewry, LMSW, Senior Director of Crisis Services at Hegira Health is a licensed social worker with over 25 years of experience in the behavioral health industry.
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