Mental health responders are reshaping the future of emergency response in Minneapolis, and the city said it’s working.The city’s Behavioral Crisis Response (BCR) team, led by Canopy Roots, launched in 2021 and they’re seeing results. The team’s mission was driven by community feedback.
The focus is to reduce the number of deadly encounters during 911 mental health calls by responding without weapons and specialized mental health training.“The feedback is consistently good feedback,” Cherie Hanson, Canopy Roots behavioral crisis response program manager, said. “What’s unique about this program is our focus on being prepared to support folks from diverse communities, so our responders are trained and supported in being knowledgeable about all the cultures and different people groups that live in the city, and we have the skills to meet people where they are.”Since the rollout in 2021, out of 30,000 calls, there have been no serious injuries to the responders or the people they’ve served, according to the organization.“We are trying to preserve life as we address the community needs,” Hanson said.“How does this impact crime in the community and the Minneapolis Police Department?” asked Brittney Ermon, 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS reporter.“We have the ability to take the calls that we are trained best to do. That probably allows police officers, in many circumstances, to be able to show for the calls that they are trained most for,” Hanson explained.
5 EYEWITNESS NEWS did a ride-along with BCR responders on Thursday afternoon…