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 8, 2021 / 12:15 PM / 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.
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Baltimore In Portugal, where drugs were decriminalized two decades ago, anyone found with drugs goes before a panel made up of legal, health and social work professionals who refer them to treatment. As Oregon decriminalized drugs earlier this year following a referendum, tax revenue from marijuana sales was allotted for increased public health support.
But in Baltimore, where State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby in March cut the cord on possession arrests that have been falling for many years, the city is only inching toward establishing a wider public health response.
A major change is coming to Baltimore’s 911 system. Non-violent mental health calls will now go to a crisis hotline.The goal is to help people who really don t need police and let officers focus on violent crime. Approximately 13,000 calls come into our 911 system each year for people in crisis, Mayor Brandon Scott said in a news conference Friday to discuss the program. Starting in early June, those types of calls will be diverted to this location. The program is in partnership with the Behavioral Health System Baltimore and Baltimore Crisis Response Inc. Trained professionals will either handle the situation over the phone or if needed, send a mobile crisis unit to the scene. The 911 diversion pilot aims to get the right outcome for callers whenever they dial 911. And I want to emphasize this is a small step to a larger system wide overhaul that must take place, Scott said. The consensus is many of the behavioral health related calls could have been safely resolved without
Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby last month cut the cord on possession arrests that have been falling for many years, but the city is only inching toward establishing a wider public health response, and residents are voicing concern and frustration.