How sending mental health responders instead of police could save Black lives

How sending mental health responders instead of police could save Black livesNew York Metropolis Mayor Mayor Invoice de Blasio and to start with woman Chirlane McCray announced a pilot challenge this 7 days that experts say could help save lives by using mental health pros as an alternative of police in response to 911 calls that might be mental health and fitness emergencies. The method, modeled just after the CAHOOTS plan in Oregon, will come right after months of historic protests contacting for an conclude to police brutality, specifically in the context of Black lives dropped at the fingers of police. “Of the far more than 170,000 psychological well being phone calls to 911 last calendar year, an estimated one particular simply call each and every three minutes, the the vast majority of considerations had been individuals who just necessary assist — no indicator of violence at all,” mentioned McCray.