The AP (11/10) reports New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a pilot program that will dispatch mental healthcare professionals rather than police officers in response to certain calls to 911. The program will be “rolled out next year in two neighborhoods” and is based on existing programs that have been in place in other cities, such as Eugene, Oregon, for decades.
Reuters (11/10, Layne) reports de Blasio said, “For the first time in our city’s history, health responders will be the default responders for a person in crisis, making sure those struggling with mental illness receive the help they need.” New York City First Lady Chirlane McCray “said in the statement that the responders would have the expertise to deal with a range of situations, including suicide attempts, drug abuse and physical problems which can mask mental health issues.
Related Links:
— “Mental health workers to take lead in some NYC 911 calls, AP, November 10, 2020