COURTESY OF LAURA WADSTEN
The initiative will pair behavioral health clinicians with trained campus security officers when responding to mental health crises.
Hopkins announced the creation of the Johns Hopkins University Behavioral Health Crisis Support Team (JHU BHCST) to respond to behavioral and mental health crises on and around Homewood Campus on May 18. In an email to constituents, University President Ronald J. Daniels, Acting Vice President for Public Safety Connor Scott and Vice Provost for Student Health and Well-Being Kevin Shollenberger promoted the initiative as part of the University’s commitment to reimagining public safety.
They noted that currently, campus safety and security officers are the first and sole in-person responders to behavioral health crises.
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Thousands of people call Baltimore 911 every year seeking help during a mental health crisis. Now, operators will direct them to trained specialists. By Li Cohen
May 9, 2021 / 7:09 AM / CBS News
Baltimore, Maryland, will launch a new program this summer to direct some emergency calls to mental and behavioral health professionals, Mayor Brandon Scott announced on Friday. The program, the mayor said, is intended to help people in crisis who call 911, and allow the police to spend more time focusing on violence. Approximately 13,000 calls come into our 9-1-1 system each year for people in crisis. Baltimore is home to world-class medical institutions, and we have an opportunity to deliver premier clinical care and supportive services to residents experiencing behavioral health and substance use crises, Scott said. The citywide pilot my administration will launch this summer will allow our police officers to spend more time focusing on violence.
Print Phil Yacuboski, WBAL NewsRadio 1090 and FM 101.5
The mayor announced a 911 diversion pilot program Friday, which puts mental health workers in place of certain 911 calls when police respond.
Mayor Brandon Scott says this isn’t defunding police. Dispatchers will aim to get the right outcome for callers whenever they dial 911 .”
“Police departments can’t tackle violent crime, Scott said. The fire department can’t tackle public health and mental emergencies and everything else.”
The program will begin in June and will be re-evaluated daily. 911 dispatchers will figure out if police need to be called or if behavioral health professionals are needed instead of police.