The public needs to be better educated. These “libritards and mayor flinstone” are actually enacting a scientifically proven intervention that takes into account the states laws and statues regarding not only criminality but mental and physical health. Determining which “level of care” needed to respond is likely to be based on a myrid of factors in which Apalachee Center, the current Mental Health Receiving facility, is already trained to handle and has tools in place to quickly and effectively determine. However, a therapist cannot transport a client to baker act and must call the police to do so. This wastes precious time as the client may become distressed while waiting and concerned about what the neighbors and family may think if a cop car shows up and they are escorted into “custody”. This is especially true in areas that have a negative view on law enforcement. Also, many clients may suffer from hallucinations and delusions which make them paranoid. A plain clothed officer negates the intimidation factor, can monitor the therapist and situation for safety, provide transport and increase the relationship officers have with the community by being seen as helpful instead of punishing. The article also stated the officer will be specially trained, likely to also include CPI training which mental health providers use to de-escalate clients that are mentally ill in a way that prevents them from becoming violent instead of only reacting after they become violent. Also, a health professional is needed for those who may have harmed themselves or believe they are experiencing a mental health problem but are actually experiencing a physical health issue that is causing mental health symptoms. This professional may also be needed to provide medications to prevent overdose or other interventions to protect the person’s physical safety. Without this person, an officer and therapist would have to wait for medical help to arrive while the client may be literally bleeding out.

Each of these individuals would be necessary and with the current massive influx of domestic violence, drug abuse and aggravation of mental health issues as well a taxed system due to COVID (yes, health workers can get COVID too and that is at least one less provider who can see X amount of people), I wonder if two teams will be enough.

Now, if you idiots want to waste your tax dollars having 3 different agencies respond in this manner- Law enforcement dispatched and arrives, enforcement calls mental health out, mental health calls dispatch for medic, medic stabalizes then has enforcement transport to Mental Health facility. Then All three have to take time to submit incident reports and go to the facility. The client then has to go through admissions at mental health facility where a different mental health professional legally has to screen them again and a physician has to screen them again before they arrive to a unit where they are cared for.

If you think ALL of that is a better solution than a specially trained team of individuals who can handle all aspects and reduce hours of time and tons of dollars…. you are the retard you were referring to earlier.

This is their version of ObummerDoesn’tCare. Three squads of psychiatrists & a couple dozen orderlies… kept in & around city hall & the homes of the city kommissars to control their frequent breaks from reality.

OK, the OPs here have convinced me that one team should be dedicated to keeping an eye ? on the mayor for the security of the citizenry & the state.

Harold,
Wow – you struck a nerve with me!
As a professional who takes care of people and teaches – we are NOT perpetuating mental health issues as a stigma! We teach and know that mental health issues are a disease that is treatable! The stigma resides in you. Go take a class and learn what we teach in 2020.
By the way, how many people have you had to Baker Act?

If we do not stop training people to say there is a stigma, training profesionals and the public, If we do not stop accommodating people taught and teaching that prejudice, as Pogo said, “We have met the enemy and it is us.”