Philadelphia's Unique Approach to Mental Health Crises

In Philadelphia, a unique team tackles mental health emergencies. This team is made up of police officers and therapists. They have a special focus on helping people in crisis. The team is called the Crisis Intervention Response Team, or CIRT for short. The team's members have personal experiences that drive them to help others. This makes their approach different from typical police responses. The team started after a tragic event. A man named Walter Wallace Jr. was shot by police during a mental health crisis. This event highlighted the need for better ways to handle such situations. The city and police department invested in programs to improve their response to mental health crises. This is part of a broader effort seen in many police departments across the country. The CIRT team is unique because of its follow-up resources. Most of the officers on the team have personal connections to mental health issues. For example, Officer Vanity Cordero grew up with an uncle who has autism. This personal experience gives her a deeper understanding and patience when dealing with people in crisis. She treats everyone like family, which helps her connect with those in need. On a cold February morning, Cordero responded to a call about a man threatening to jump from a bridge. She had met him before and talked him down by engaging him in conversation. This time, she stayed back until needed, but the man spotted her. They laughed about her not being as tan as before, and she reminded him it was cold outside. A few hours later, the man was on his way to a mental health hold. Clinician Krystian Gardner would follow up with him and offer resources to his family. The CIRT team spends more time with each person compared to regular patrol officers. They aim to solve problems together with those in crisis. The team's clinicians bring valuable experience and resources. For instance, Audrey Lundy, a program director, helped a family in need by bringing groceries. This opened the door to a broader conversation about available resources. The team also helps veterans. Officer Kenneth Harper, a Marine combat veteran, has used his experience to assist fellow veterans. He built a rapport with a veteran who had served for over 30 years but never sought help. Harper and another officer got him to the veterans hospital for treatment and housing. They kept in touch for months, showing their commitment to helping others. The CIRT team covers the entire city on weekdays. However, crises don't stop on nights and weekends. The team hopes to grow in numbers as more people become familiar with their work. They want people to call them directly if they need help, instead of waiting until it's an emergency. This proactive approach could save lives and provide better support for those in crisis.