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Mental Illness Is Not a Crime: City Program Diverts 911 Calls to Mental Health Professionals

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We were all taught to call 911 if we needed help. But what if we need help for a mental health crisis of a family member or a neighbor? Until recently, 911 calls in St. Louis City for a mental health concern typically resulted in a response by armed police or an ambulance.

A year-old program now diverts many of those 911 calls to more appropriate responders. Since February 2021, after two successful pilot programs, health professionals from Behavioral Health Response have been partnering with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department to get people behavioral health services and prevent them from needlessly going to jail or the hospital.

Join Behavioral Health Response to learn more about this innovative program.