CLEVELAND — Historically, police have been the first responders to behavioral health crises, regardless of circumstance or risk of violence. Often, this response does not meet the needs of the person in crisis and can sometimes lead to injury or death, as with Tanisha Anderson here in Cleveland and others throughout the country.
Part of the solution lies in “care response” -– a paradigm shift where unarmed behavioral health clinicians and trained peers with lived experience in the behavioral health system respond to individuals experiencing behavioral health crisis instead of police. This brings the specific expertise the individual needs to help in time of crisis and permits police to engage in other important public safety duties.
Care response is part of a comprehensive community crisis care system, that includes “hotline” services (988), community response, and facility-based care. Care response provides expert clinical assessment, mental health crisis care, linkage to services and shelter, frequently resolving crises in the community without transfer to crisis facilities or hospitals. Care-response services have shown impressive results, including reduced need for police response, reduced crime in the areas covered by “care response,” and improved safety for all involved.
In late May, Dr. Mark Hurst, a co-author of this guest column, presented recommendations for the development of a “care response” program to the Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board of Cuyahoga County. The recommendations were the result of a monthslong process by a coalition of mental health advocates, stakeholders, and other experts, with support from The George Fund Foundation, The Cleveland Foundation, and Mt. Sinai Health Foundation.
Dr. Mark Hurst is former medical director of the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and of the Ohio Department of Health.
The ADAMHS Board of Directors and staff were receptive to the coalition’s recommendations and have made implementation of care response in Cuyahoga County a priority to provide safer and more effective care to individuals experiencing behavioral health crises.
In collaboration with partners, the ADAMHS Board of Cuyahoga County is evaluating the entire crisis system, including the development of care response teams, to determine how best to meet future community needs. Important advances have been made, including the expansion and further development of telephone crisis services (988), increased crisis intervention team training (CIT) for police, continuation of “co-response” teams composed of a police officer and a mental health professional, and oversight of Cuyahoga County’s diversion center to avoid needless incarceration of individuals in crisis. All are important components of an effective crisis care system, and partnership among all these components. Care response is essential to achieve best results for the community.
Scott Osiecki is CEO of the Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board of Cuyahoga County.
The recommendations are only the first step. Extensive preparation and community partnership are needed to assure that care response and the other components of the comprehensive crisis care system work collaboratively with one another, with the broader health care system and with the community as a whole. The ADAMHS Board of Cuyahoga County is committed to lead the charge that assures the mental health crisis care system is safe, compassionate, respectful, and effective in meeting the needs of people experiencing a crisis, their families and the community.
Together, we can redefine mental health crisis intervention and provide the support and care that individuals in crisis truly deserve.
Dr. Mark Hurst is former medical director of both the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and the Ohio Department of Health. Scott Osiecki is CEO of the Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board of Cuyahoga County.
Have something to say about this topic?
* Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication.
* Email general questions about our editorial board or comments or corrections on this opinion column to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com
