In recent years, communities across the country have been reimagining how we respond to mental health emergencies. The traditional model of dispatching armed police officers to these sensitive situations has increasingly come under scrutiny, with many advocating for specialized crisis response teams instead. This shift isn’t just about politics—it’s about creating more effective, compassionate, and ultimately safer responses for everyone involved.
The Problem with Traditional Police Response
When someone experiences a mental health crisis, what they need most is de-escalation, understanding, and appropriate care. Unfortunately, traditional police training primarily focuses on crime response and physical threat assessment rather than mental health intervention. This mismatch can lead to several problems:
- Police officers, especially small departments, often lack specialized training in mental health crisis management
- The presence of weapons and uniforms can escalate tension in someone already experiencing psychological distress
- Mental health crises get unnecessarily criminalized when they should be treated as health emergencies
- Resources are diverted from actual criminal activity that requires police attention
The Alternative: Community Crisis Response Teams
Crisis response teams typically consist of mental health professionals, social workers, peer support specialists, and medical personnel specifically trained to handle psychiatric emergencies. They arrive without weapons and focus entirely on de-escalation and connection to appropriate care.
These teams are equipped to:
- Assess the person’s immediate needs and safety concerns
- De-escalate the situation using evidence-based techniques
- Provide immediate crisis counseling and emotional support
- Connect individuals with appropriate follow-up care and services
- Minimize trauma for the person in crisis and those around them
Success Stories Worth Noting
Several cities have already implemented crisis response models with promising results:
CAHOOTS (Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets) in Eugene, Oregon has been operating for over 30 years. Teams of medics and crisis workers respond to mental health-related calls, handling approximately 20% of all 911 calls in the area. The program saves the city an estimated $8.5 million annually in police costs.
Denver’s STAR Program (Support Team Assisted Response) found that in its first six months, mental health professionals successfully resolved hundreds of incidents without police backup, with no arrests made and no use of force.
NYC’s B-HEARD (Behavioral Health Emergency Assistance Response Division) reported that individuals in crisis were more likely to accept help from their teams than from traditional police responses.
The Benefits to Communities
Implementing specialized crisis response teams creates multiple benefits:
- Better outcomes for those in crisis: People receive appropriate care rather than unnecessary arrests or hospital visits
- Reduced strain on police resources: Officers can focus on crime prevention and response, their primary area of expertise
- Cost savings: Crisis response teams typically cost less than police response and reduce expensive emergency room visits and jail bookings
- Reduced risk of tragic outcomes: Specialized teams are trained to handle situations without weapons, reducing the risk of injury or death
- Building community trust: Communities see that their health needs are being addressed with appropriate care rather than criminal responses
Making the Transition
Transitioning to a community-based crisis response system requires:
- Comprehensive planning with input from mental health experts, people with lived experience, and community members
- Thorough training for response teams in de-escalation, crisis intervention, and cultural competency
- Clear protocols for when police backup might be necessary
- Community education about the new system and how to access it
- Ongoing evaluation and adjustment of the program
The Bottom Line
Mental health emergencies require mental health solutions. By shifting from police-centered responses to specialized crisis teams, communities can provide more appropriate care, reduce harm, save resources, and ultimately create better outcomes for everyone involved.
This approach recognizes that mental health crises are health emergencies, not criminal situations. With the right response teams in place, communities can ensure that people in psychological distress receive the compassionate, professional help they need when they need it most.
