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Thu, February 20, 2025

Crisis response questions remain after Sacramento sheriff's new policy on mental health calls


Published on 2025-02-20 12:23:11 - MSN
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  • Since the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department stopped responding to non-criminal mental health calls, the focus has been on 988, the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, run by WellSpace Health in Sacramento and 31 other California counties.

The article discusses the Sacramento Sheriff's Office's new policy on responding to mental health crisis calls, which has sparked concerns about its effectiveness and implications. The policy aims to streamline responses by involving mental health professionals more directly, but questions remain about the training of deputies, the criteria for determining when a mental health professional should be involved, and the overall impact on individuals in crisis. Critics argue that the policy might not adequately address the complexities of mental health emergencies, potentially leading to inappropriate use of force or inadequate care. There are also concerns about the policy's transparency and whether it truly reduces the criminalization of mental illness or merely shifts the burden. The community and advocacy groups are calling for more clarity, better training, and a more compassionate approach to ensure that those in mental health crises receive the appropriate support without escalating situations unnecessarily.

Read the Full MSN Article at:
[ https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/crisis-response-questions-remain-after-sacramento-sheriff-s-new-policy-on-mental-health-calls/ar-AA1zs3Rm ]