What began as a conversation between Indianapolis community leaders about public health and criminal-justice reform in 2021 has led to formation of a new team to address the needs of people with mental-health issues. The Clinician-Led Community Response Team, which has been responding to calls since July, is made up of professionals trained in mental-health crisis intervention and disengagement techniques without law enforcement involvement. CLCR team director Andrea Brown, with the Stepping Stones Therapy Center, said they re available to meet people in the community "where they are," and offer support in a safe environment. .
Mental health has emerged as a pressing issue for young Pennsylvanians in "Generation Z," born after 1996. Research shows they are also more willing to talk about it than previous generations. Christine Michaels, CEO of NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania, said coming out of the pandemic has been the biggest challenge facing Gen Z, with depression, anxiety and suicide attempts on the rise. .
New provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that nearly 50,000 Americans died by suicide last year. The record numbers are leading to renewed calls for those in crisis to seek help, and for those around them to take action. Last year s all-time high for suicides in the U.S. .
A little more than a year ago, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline adopted the shorter number 988. Since then, mental-health advocates in Connecticut and across the U.S. are seeing great results. .