Why Partnering With 911 and First Responders Is Crucial to the Success of 988
For 988 to work, first responders must be able to easily and rapidly connect people to care.
Austin’s 911 Call Center Integrates Mental Health Call Crisis Diversion
In Austin, when a person dials 911, the call taker asks, “Are you calling for police, fire, EMS, or mental health services?” Adding mental health as an option is groundbreaking and part of the city’s crisis call diversion initiative where clinicians are co-located on the 911 call center’s operations floor.
Victor Armstrong on Race, Mental Health, and How Removing Police Alone Is Not the Answer
When in a psychiatric crisis, who a person of color encounters matters, says Victor Armstrong. He hopes change is on the horizon with 988 but notes it must coincide with advancing crisis care. Otherwise, telling people not to call 911 without an adequate solution leaves people in crisis and their
Dr. Matthew L. Goldman Says if Not Implemented Properly, 988 Is No More Than Rebranding
Dr. Matthew L. Goldman says what can transform 988 into a robust tool for advancing crisis systems is implementation, funding, coordination, clinical best practices, and research and evaluation. “Otherwise,” notes Dr. Goldman, “988 will be only a rebranding of 1-800-273-TALK, the number to the SAMHSA-funded National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.”
It’s Been a Bad Day: 911 in a Mental Health vs. Medical Crisis
Developed by Crisis Now, the 'It’s Been a Bad Day' video goes through the divergent paths people experience in the United States when having a mental health crisis as opposed to a medical one.
Law Enforcement Are Critical Stakeholders in Behavioral Health Crisis Services
Nick Margiotta, president of Crisis System Solutions and retired Phoenix police officer, says law enforcement are critical stakeholders in behavioral health crisis services.
Richmond Times-Dispatch Reports Virginia Set to Award Contract with Private Security Firm to Transport Involuntary Patients
Many people experiencing mental health crises in Virginia find themselves in the back of police vehicles, driven to the nearest hospital, which is sometimes hours away. In 2018, there were 25,000 involuntary detentions and police transported 99 percent of them. This will soon change as the Virginia Department of Behavioral
