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Author: To read Lila Seidman's article, please click here.
The mid-July launch of 988 – a national mental health crisis hotline – spurred an outcry among some activists who warned that calls could trigger unwanted police response. Their fears aren’t completely unfounded: Though the hotline is separate from 911, crisis counselors may relay information to police in dire situations, such as when a caller’s life is in imminent danger.
Their fears aren’t completely unfounded: Though the hotline is separate from 911, crisis counselors do relay information to police in dire situations, such as when a caller’s life is in imminent danger. This represents a small percentage of 988 calls, texts and chats, with the majority of crises are resolved without any officers dispatched. But it still means an estimated 6,850 of the 137,000 contacts that Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, which helms the crisis call response for much of Southern California, led to involvement of law enforcement or other emergency response.
That’s significant when one considers the population. People struggling with serious mental illness are at much higher risk of being shot and killed by police. It’s estimated one in four victims of police killings suffer from psychological issues or are otherwise mentally atypical. It’s incumbent on the architects of 988 to ensure that this promising service provides all callers with the help they need.
The long-term vision for 988 is to reimagine the national crisis response system and divert those in the throws of a mental health crisis from jails to hospitals. The Lifeline is just the first step, providing a compassionate ear to call. In time, it aims to include someone to show up, such as mobile crisis teams, and somewhere to go, including crisis stabilization programs.
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