by Nicole Greson Special to wranglernews.com
More than 150 calls from Tempeans needing emergency help during mental health crises have been handled differently since a partnership this year changed how the city responds to 911 calls.
This year, the City Council unanimously approved a contract with Tempe-based Solari Crisis & Human Services, which operates crisis hotlines in central and northern Arizona that receive about 22,000 calls each month.
Solari specialists began working with Tempe 911 dispatchers to respond to calls from nonviolent suicidal individuals. Callers speak immediately to Solari’s counselors with backgrounds in psychology, social work, and counseling.
According to the city, as of June 2022, Solari responded to approximately 152 calls, with assistance ranging from helping stabilize a person in crisis over the phone to sending a mobile team to a person in need.
This marks a change in the way the city responds to these calls. Instead of summarily dispatching Tempe police officers as in the past, dispatchers are now trained to screen calls, determine the status of each caller, and whether the caller is non-violent and non-threatening. immediately for themselves or others, connect them with a Solari adviser without involving the Police Department, which previously responded to such calls.
The counselor takes charge of the call, does a quick assessment of the caller’s risks and determines what needs to be done, said Matthew Moody, Solari’s director of contact center operations and clinical services.
“We focus on listening to the person, helping them feel validated and supported, identifying the precipitating factors that brought them to this place and determining what is going on with them, how to help them and the next steps,” Moody said.
If a caller is determined to need in-person assistance, Solari dispatches a crisis response team. If an emergency call reveals that a person in crisis is armed or violent, Tempe police officers are dispatched.
Crisis response teams from EMPACT, TERROS, or Spectrum are available to dispatch when needed, but in the future, the city plans to have mobile teams from its CARE 7 crisis response unit to be the first choice to dispatch in person. attendance.
CARE 7 has been Tempe’s 24/7 crisis response unit since 1997. Certified team members respond with Tempe police and fire medical rescue personnel to assist people who experience trauma after events such as domestic violence, car accidents, sexual or physical assaults, suicides, homicides. , home fires, drownings and other unexpected deaths. The team also offers counseling for youth, families, and veterans.
Moody said most situations are resolved over the phone, with the caller referred to supportive care, such as counseling.
In addition, Solari’s counselors ask to follow up with each caller within three days to verify their status.
The program is a “huge change from how in the past we put crisis and mental health care in law enforcement,” Moody said.
Tempe Mayor Corey Woods said Tempe has been forced to innovate its approaches to caring for people in crisis.
“Tempe will be the first city in Maricopa County, and possibly in Arizona, to have its own team of mental health counselors who respond to crisis calls in person,” Woods said. “Eventually, Tempe and Solari are expected to move on to expand beyond suicide-related calls to also handle those involving anxiety, substance abuse, family issues or other mental health issues.
“Tempe is at the forefront of creating new models for human services and public safety. This new model will get the best response for the person in crisis and give our officers more time to focus on fighting crime.”
Police Chief Jeff Glover agreed that officers can now focus more on crime prevention and response. Tempe Police received more than 1,700 mental health-related calls for service in 2021.
“Tempe police officers are the best at what they do to keep our community safe,” Glover said.
“We are delighted that this partnership allows their true expertise to shine through and gives mental health experts the opportunity to lend their skills to people in crisis.”
According to Tempe public information officer Susie Steckner, the city’s approach to helping people in crisis will include the new mental health response team, called MyHRT (pronounced My Heart), made up of a licensed social worker and others. mental health experts. healthcare professionals. The city is nearing completion of contracting for the equipment, which is scheduled to be operational this year.
Steckner said community members will be better served in a number of ways when it comes to overall health and wellness.
On-scene crisis response will be a focus, but the team will also offer general mental health assistance for individuals and families who are struggling but not in an immediate crisis. Preventive services will also be offered.
Redirecting mental health-related calls for service was a recommendation from the city’s Public Safety Advisory Task Force, a group of community members appointed by Woods shortly after he took office two years ago to examine ways to increase community trust in surveillance.
The task force’s work led to a comprehensive community safety plan for Tempe that will be implemented over several years.
Need help? If you or someone you know is experiencing a behavioral health crisis, please call the Maricopa County Crisis Line at 1‑800‑631‑1314.