Tragic Failures: The Urgent Need for Proper Crisis Intervention in Mental Health Emergencies
By Veda Green
Why did Sonya Massey die? Sonya Massey called the police because she suspected a prowler. Instead of officers retreating to plan a safe psychiatric evaluation or call a crisis care professional when she couldn’t even state her last name, they threatened her with violence. This ultimately led to tragedy. If Officer Grayson hadn’t been in uniform, Sonya might still be alive. What if another officer had responded? The Massey family could be visiting her in a mental wellness facility instead of preparing for a funeral.
I pray that I never experience a mental health crisis. I diligently take my prescribed medications because if the police are called, my life could be at risk. Why is this? CIT (Critical Intervention Team) training isn’t universally required or properly exercised. Despite being encouraged and even incentivized with cash bonuses, it remains optional in many states and cities. Since 2017, Washington State has mandated only 8 hours of CIT training for full-time law enforcement, though the full course is 40 hours.
When individuals face mental health crises, they often encounter law enforcement before medical professionals. This gap highlights the urgent need for comprehensive crisis care services. A Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program, present in over 2,700 communities nationwide, bridges this gap by fostering collaboration between law enforcement, mental health providers, and emergency services. CIT enhances communication, identifies mental health resources, and prioritizes safety for all involved.
Mental health treatment and suicide prevention are critical public health issues. However, due to the absence of a robust community mental health system, people in crisis frequently end up in jails, emergency rooms, or tragically harmed during encounters with law enforcement. To mitigate this crisis, accessible crisis care must be integrated into our mental health service system.
The National Guidelines for Crisis Care advocate for regional 24/7 crisis call centers, mobile crisis teams, and crisis receiving and stabilization programs. These services ensure immediate, effective responses led by trained mental health professionals in community settings. By providing crisis stabilization and trauma-informed care, these programs aim to redirect individuals towards healing and recovery, rather than incarceration or harm.
Despite these efforts, fatal encounters involving law enforcement and individuals with mental illness persist. A comprehensive approach involves restoring mental illness treatment systems, accurate reporting of police encounters involving deadly force, and recognizing the impact of mental illness in these encounters.
CIT represents a crucial step forward—a police-based strategy involving specially trained officers who can respond calmly and effectively to mental health crises. States like Florida, Ohio, and Virginia have implemented successful CIT initiatives, joined by hundreds of local programs across the country. Georgia’s statewide CIT program, launched in 2004, serves as a model for effective collaboration between law enforcement and mental health services.
The theoretical framework for crisis intervention is sound, but its application often falls short, resulting in tragic consequences.
Our lawmakers must take decisive action:
– Restore adequate mental illness treatment systems.
– Establish a reliable federal database for reporting fatal police encounters.
– Systematically document incidents involving deadly force by law enforcement.
– Address the role of mental illness in fatal encounters with law enforcement.
In conclusion, real change is urgently needed to prevent further tragedies and ensure that individuals in crisis receive the care and support they deserve.
References:
– Janet R. Oliva and Michael T. Compton. Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online March 2008, 36 (1) 38-46;
– NAMI-National Alliance on Mental Illness;
– The Treatment Advocacy Center
