Massachusetts regional effort better equips officers for BH disorders

Abstract

With increasing calls involving mental and behavioral health needs, three local police departments in Northborough, Southborough and Westborough. Massachusetts, have teamed up to add a mental health jail diversion program, The MetroWestDaily News reported Oct. 27. The police will share a mental health clinician, who will be available to respond alongside officers to crisis situations. Westborough police took the lead in securing a grant from Advocates Inc., a Framingham agency that helps people with mental illness. The program offers training to all officers on how to de‐escalate situations involving mental illness. The clinician will help with issues of homelessness, domestic abuse, sexual assault and substance abuse, among other issues, the chief said. The clinician will split time between the three departments going on ride‐alongs and following up with residents. The person hired will be ready to respond if there is a critical need in one of the towns. “I believe we need to do more for mental health for our society at large,” Westborough Police Chief Jeffrey A. Lourie said. He hopes to officially launch the program by Jan. 1. All officers in the three towns will receive training on how to work with the clinician.