Pandemic delays hiring of staff for Columbia mental health crisis unit
ABC 17 News
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Nearly a year after Columbia city manager John Glascock announced a new unit to handle emergency calls involving mental health crises, the unit remains unstaffed.
Glascock added seven positions in the fiscal year 2021 budget revealed in July to create a public safety mental health collaboration with the Police Department. Health leaders say they hope to create a fourth kind of first responder unit in the county, which would dispatch to emergency calls involving someone having a mental health problem. Supporters of the unit hope it will stop dangerous conflicts between the person and law enforcement and help the person get mental health resources.
We know this year is just going to be worse, he said.
Burrell officials said as children and teens prepare for a holiday in which social activities, family traditions and normal support systems will likely look different, it is vital that adults not take a business as usual approach.
They urged adults to make an extra effort to acknowledge the negative mental health effects that isolation, depression and anxiety can have on kids lives.
Sara Wilson, system director for youth training and consultation at Burrell, said there are signs of mental health distress. Watch for increased anxiousness, sadness, anger or aggression or we are noticing the emotions are a little bit more intense, she said.
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