One in five adults experiences a mental illness each year, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). As first responders see an increase in calls for mental health emergencies, the City of Carrollton is responding with a new approach, focused on care and long-term solutions.
The city recently marked one year since launching its Navigator Program, a partnership with Metrocare and Metrocrest Services that embeds a qualified mental health professional and team of care coordinators into the city’s emergency response model. The program deploys a mental health navigator in real time to support people in crisis and provide ongoing follow-up care.
“It’s not a criminal violation, it’s a mental health issue,” said Rex Redden, executive director of public safety for the City of Carrollton. “And as best we train our police officers, they’re just not the right tool for the job.”…