Posted on Jun 10, 2021
In Montana, Crisis Support Teams Offer Alternatives To Policing Mental Health
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https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/06/10/ [login to see] /in-montana-crisis-support-teams-offer-alternatives-to-policing-mental-health
By the time Kiki Radermacher, a mental health therapist, arrived at a Missoula, Mont., home on an emergency 911 call in late May, the man who lived there and had called for help was backed into a corner and yelling at police officers.
The place he was renting was about to be sold. He had called 911 when his fear of becoming homeless turned to thoughts of killing himself.
"I asked him, 'Will you sit with me?' " recalled Radermacher, a member of the city's mobile crisis response team who answered the call with a medic and talked with the man that day, helping connect him with support services. "We really want to empower people, to find solutions."
Missoula began sending this special crew on emergency mental health calls in November as a pilot project; next month the program will become permanent. It's one of six mobile crisis response initiatives in Montana — up from one at the start of 2019. And four more local governments have applied for state grants this year to start teams.
By the time Kiki Radermacher, a mental health therapist, arrived at a Missoula, Mont., home on an emergency 911 call in late May, the man who lived there and had called for help was backed into a corner and yelling at police officers.
The place he was renting was about to be sold. He had called 911 when his fear of becoming homeless turned to thoughts of killing himself.
"I asked him, 'Will you sit with me?' " recalled Radermacher, a member of the city's mobile crisis response team who answered the call with a medic and talked with the man that day, helping connect him with support services. "We really want to empower people, to find solutions."
Missoula began sending this special crew on emergency mental health calls in November as a pilot project; next month the program will become permanent. It's one of six mobile crisis response initiatives in Montana — up from one at the start of 2019. And four more local governments have applied for state grants this year to start teams.
In Montana, Crisis Support Teams Offer Alternatives To Policing Mental Health
Posted from npr.org
Mental Health
Police
Law Enforcement
State of Montana
Edited 3 y ago
Posted 3 y ago
Responses: 3
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As long as you keep those providers safe...i.e. there's police back up, it's a great idea
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In SOME instances, "Crisis Support Teams," MIGHT make sense but for any "domestic disturbance" issue they should be summoned AFTER police intervention. One thing about the military, regardless of who was wrong in a domestic argument, the service member was removed to spend that evening at his unit's billiting. It served as a cooling off period; NOT as punishment. Of course that changed if either party assaulted the other. While the dependant might be charged, it was still the servicce member who was required to spend that evening/night with his/her unit. The dependant was handled through the Federal Magistrate system and the service member through the UCMJ - whichever or both, as appropriate.
In the civilian world, they don't have that luxury, so yes ... I can see the police (emphasis, THE POLICE) calling for such a support team, only once they determined it would be SAFE for all concerned. The idea of sending a support team up front, is potentially life threatening.
In the civilian world, they don't have that luxury, so yes ... I can see the police (emphasis, THE POLICE) calling for such a support team, only once they determined it would be SAFE for all concerned. The idea of sending a support team up front, is potentially life threatening.
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