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Solving Mental Health Crises with Unlikely Responders
New faces in the field, coast-to-coast investments in mental health, and how partnerships are rewriting the script on de-escalation. Read on!
Something unexpected is joining crisis response calls in Detroit and it’s not what you think. As teams across the country rethink how to support people in their most vulnerable moments, one department is adding a unique twist to its toolkit.
This week in Badges and Behavioral Health, we explore a new face in the field, coast-to-coast investments in mental health, and how partnerships are rewriting the script on de-escalation.
Let’s jump into it:
Today’s Brief:
Behavioral Health Briefs
Peterborough: Police and CMHA Partner to De-Escalate Crisis Calls
Detroit Crisis Intervention Teams Get a New Member To Support Mental Health Calls
Video Brief
Total Read Time: 3 Minutes
🧠 Crisis Intervention Briefs:
Montana legislators have greenlit a $124 million investment to transform the state’s behavioral health system. The initiative focuses on bolstering community-based services, strengthening crisis response, and improving long-term care options for individuals with complex mental health needs.
As part of Mental Health Month, Purdue University is amplifying awareness of its behavioral health support offerings. Resources include counseling, crisis support, and virtual mental health tools—aimed at fostering student well-being throughout the academic year.
Governor Mike DeWine has announced a plan to expand mobile behavioral health services across Ohio. These teams will help address mental health and addiction crises more effectively in communities by meeting individuals where they are—reducing reliance on emergency rooms and law enforcement.
During Mental Health Week, the Peterborough Police Service spotlighted its Mobile Crisis Intervention Team (MCIT), a collaborative initiative with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). The MCIT comprises two units, each pairing a police officer with a CMHA mental health worker, responding to calls involving individuals experiencing mental health crises. This partnership aims to de-escalate situations effectively and provide appropriate support.
CMHA worker Andrew Swift, partnered with Constable Justin Cannon, noted that the concept originated in Toronto approximately two decades ago. Constable Cannon emphasized the team's consistent value in the community. Additionally, CMHA worker Michelle Faught, working alongside Constable Scott Levitt, highlighted the importance of post-incident debriefings to enhance team learning and response strategies.
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The Detroit Police Department's Crisis Intervention Team has introduced two new comfort dogs, Atlas and Dequindre, to assist officers on mental health calls across the city. Sponsored by Marathon Petroleum's Detroit refinery through a grant to the Detroit Public Safety Foundation, these labradoodles are currently in training and will soon be certified. Their role is to help de-escalate stressful situations, particularly benefiting children and individuals in crisis.
This initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance community engagement and officer wellness. Whitney Walton, a former Detroit police officer and current Marathon Petroleum employee, secured funding not only for the comfort dogs but also for mountain bikes and helmets to promote positive interactions between officers and the community. Chief Todd Bettison expressed enthusiasm about the addition, emphasizing the dogs' potential to provide emotional support during challenging encounters.
Video Brief
Thank you for reading Badges and Behavioral Health.
We’ll return next issue with more frontline updates, policy shifts, and program highlights. Until then—stay informed, stay safe, and stay connected.
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