Connections Health Solutions’ Post

“Cities across the country are experimenting with new ways to meet rapidly increasing demand for behavioral health crisis intervention, at a time when stories of police shooting and killing people in mental health crisis have become painfully familiar. “Big questions persist about these efforts: what role should law enforcement play in mental crisis response, if any? How can leaders make sure the right kind of response is dispatched to meet the needs of a person in crisis? And what kind of on-going support is necessary after a crisis response call?” Escambia County is poised to launch its co-responder program to add to the local crisis response system that includes a Mobile Response Team and locally operated 988 call center. #crisisresponse #coresponders #coresponderprogrqm #behavioralhealthcrisis #crisisintervention #mobileresponseteam #988lifeline #suicideprevention #suicidepreventionescarosa https://lnkd.in/gEgbXbuA

Breaking the Cycle: Revolutionizing Mental Health Crisis Care in Georgia: In recent years, mental health crises have become increasingly prevalent across the United States, including here in Georgia. Recognizing the need for specialized intervention, many states have implemented mental health crisis teams to provide immediate support to individuals experiencing mental health emergencies. Additionally, initiatives like Veterans Court have emerged to address the unique needs of veterans within the criminal justice system, offering specialized support and treatment for those who have encountered legal issues related to mental health challenges or trauma stemming from their service. California serves as a prime example of success in this regard, where crisis response teams, consisting of trained professionals equipped to de-escalate situations, connect individuals with appropriate services, and prevent unnecessary hospitalizations or involvement with law enforcement, are currently working effectively. To bring similar benefits to communities in Georgia, it's essential to take proactive steps towards adopting and implementing mental health crisis teams statewide. This process begins with thorough research and assessment of existing mental health services and crisis response systems, identifying areas for improvement and building upon successful models from other states. Engaging stakeholders from various sectors, including government agencies, mental health organizations, law enforcement, and community groups, is crucial for developing a comprehensive crisis response plan tailored to Georgia's unique needs. By securing funding, developing specialized training programs, establishing standardized protocols, piloting initiatives, and advocating for policy support, Georgia can lay the groundwork for the successful implementation and expansion of mental health crisis teams. These teams have the potential to significantly improve outcomes for individuals experiencing mental health crises while reducing the burden on emergency services. Furthermore, by diverting responsibility from police who are not trained to handle such situations, mental health crisis teams can ensure that veterans and citizens receive appropriate guidance and support, leading them to treatment facilities rather than general population jails where treatment options are limited. Additionally, the integration of Veterans Court Diversion programs into Georgia's crisis response framework can provide specialized support and treatment for veterans involved in the criminal justice system, further addressing their unique needs and promoting successful reintegration into society. #MentalHealthAwareness #VeteransSupport #CrisisResponse #VeteransCourt #MentalHealthReform #MentalHealth #JusticeReform #GeorgiaSupportsVeterans #BeTheChange

“Nothing excuses what’s happened here. People want answers. There are no easy solutions.” This was my honest response to an incredibly difficult question of what we need to be doing to prevent tragedies like we have seen this week. Violent attacks involving individuals with known criminal histories and mental illness has understandably caused alarm for many people in British Columbia, I am among them. But it’s crucial to address this issue without perpetuating harmful stigmas around mental health. The reality is that most people with mental illness are not violent, but for those experiencing severe, untreated conditions, the outcomes can be tragic. It is unclear whether anything short of the suspect being in secure care could have prevented this weeks’ tragic events, but from a system perspective, experts have been calling for reform for years - ever since the former Riverview Hospital was closed. In media interviews they always take quotes and portions of comments so I wanted to provide my broader thoughts here: ➡️ Expanded Access to Community-Based and Tertiary Level Mental Health Care: Timely and comprehensive care is essential. We need more accessible mental health services, from early intervention to long-term support. This includes secure care facilities for individuals in crisis who need immediate, intensive treatment. ➡️ Stronger Integration Between Health and Justice Systems: Individuals with both mental health conditions and criminal histories continue to fall through the cracks. Better coordination between health services, law enforcement, and the justice system can ensure people get the help they need before issues escalate and reduce the number of repeat offenders. This needs to start while they are held in custody, but also continue upon release. ➡️ Community-based Support and Housing: Stable housing and consistent community support are vital for reducing the risks of untreated mental illness. Expanding supportive housing programs with integrated social and clinical services can provide the foundation for long-term recovery and reduce the likelihood of future incidents. #MentalHealth #PublicSafety #CommunityCare #Prevention #CriminalJusticeReform

In an amazing effort to divert behavioral health calls away from first responders and toward mental health professionals, South Sound 911—the largest call center in Washington—has created an initiative to actively address the increasing number of mental health crisis calls it is receiving. This is just one of three pilot centers in the state. Volunteers of America (the designated provider for 988 hotlines in Western Washington) plans to continue growing this initiative and eventually support six counters and a coordinator working in the co-location facility. Dispatchers everywhere are noticing an increased number of 911 calls involving a mental or behavioral health component, and it's wonderful to see initiatives taking shape that work to help people in need with a behavioral health response rather than involving law enforcement. This can increase positive outcomes for those seeking help and simultaneously diminish some of the burden that first responders and law enforcement agencies face. #BehavioralHealth #MentalHealth #SouthSound911 #CrisisResponse

What resources are available to help someone experiencing a mental health crisis? Today we’re highlighting Carver County’s Mental Health Crisis Team: a 24/7 mobile and telephone crisis response service in Carver County, MN. Their primary goal is to provide immediate crisis intervention, early identification of mental health issues, and avoid out-of-home placements. What do they offer? - Crisis response services for both adults and children - Crisis response services for anyone within Carver County regardless of the County of residence - Services are provided regardless of ability to pay - The Crisis Team sees clients within numerous settings including Ridgeview Medical Center and Two Twelve Medical Center mental health clinics, medical clinics, police and sheriff's departments, jails, schools, nursing homes, family homes and community settings.  Their Mission Statement: Provide intense community based service as an alternative/prevention to a higher level of care. Stabilize the immediate crisis and help to restore a pre-crisis level of functioning.Promote resiliency, hope, as well as access to treatment and services Main access line for all services: 952-442-7601 Visit their website for more info: https://lnkd.in/gEUWpHBm #ResourceThursday #CrisisResources #MentalHealthAwareness

The promise of progress in #suicideprevention #crisissupport #behavioralhealth The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), recently awarded $232.2 million in grants for suicide prevention and behavioral health care for at-risk communities, including more than $200 million in new funding for states, territories, and Tribal nations and organizations to build local capacity for the #988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and related crisis services. Addressing the nation’s ongoing #mentalhealth crisis is a top priority of the Biden-Harris Administration and a key pillar in President Biden’s Unity Agenda for the nation.

This an absolute Blockbuster article 80% of IMPD runs are likely MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES Less than 40% of officers have crisis intervention training because it's VOLUNTARY, despite IMPD claims that most are trained IMPD doubled its Mobile Crisis Assistance Team (MCAT) that handles mental health calls to a total of 9 officers for a city of almost 900,000 Some have been killed in encounters with officers not equipped to handle mental health issues on the streets The takeaway is that non-police solutions must be sought and funded to safely address mental health issues in Indianapolis https://lnkd.in/gBBjCw5e

Let’s hope NYS Governor Hochul’s $1 billion State of the State Proposal to Improve Mental Health becomes action. It will improve treatment and reduce criminal justice involvement of people suffering from mental health issues. It proposes to : 1) Open 200 New Psychiatric Inpatient Beds under Multi-Year Expansion Plan 2) Establish Law Enforcement and Mental Health Coordination Team and Funds Crisis Intervention Training for Law Enforcement 3) Improve Mental Health Admission and Discharge Procedures for Hospitals 4) Fund Mental Health Court Expansion and Court-Based Mental Health Specialists 5) Increase Transitional Housing and Specialized Housing 6) Fund New Community-Based Mental Health Teams

The upcoming presidential debate is critical for educating voters and it must address the most pressing public health issue of our time: the mental health and substance use crisis. In an op-ed for STAT, Mary Giliberti, Mental Health America's Chief Public Policy Officer, emphasizes our country's need for better access to care and prevention strategies and poses three key questions that the candidates should be asked at the upcoming debate. Read more ⬇ https://lnkd.in/gFXmf-vi

The final parity rule came out today. Reimbursement rates for providers need to rise so more providers can be in-network and still make a living. I truly believe mental health is health and should be treated as such by insurance providers. Hopefully parity rules will be enforced at the state and federal level, but I fear they will cause already unaffordable premiums to rise as insurers pay fair rates to providers for mental health care. As a person with a lived experience and small group health insurance, I have high health insurance premiums and receive care from out-of-network providers, for which I have a $7000 deductible. The biggest component of these premiums is hospital costs which have risen faster than every other sector for the last 25 years, yet lawmakers have not addressed the issue in part due to the influence of the hospital industry at the state and federal level. Policymakers need to take on high hospital prices. Vivian Ho at the Baker Institute has a great piece on why health insurance premiums have risen steadily for 25 years, and hospitals, not insurers, are the bigger reason. Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy Vivian Ho Mental Health America Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute #mentalhealthishealth