MUSKEGON COUNTY, Mich. — Muskegon County has changed the way it responds to mental health emergencies.
Now, instead of an ambulance arriving to that call, a team of behavioral health experts will join police in responding.
Hannah Drabczyk is the supervisor of the Intensive Crisis Stabilization team.
"You are taught, when you are little, to call 911. You are taught that that is who you have to help, and that is an amazing resource. Law enforcement, first responders are well trained. They come to your home. They're right there," Drabczyk said. "But what we don't find out when we're young is that there are other available."
After a 911 call for a behavioral health emergency, a pair of experts from the team will go together to the scene.
"What we can do then is really triage and help support," Drabczyk said. "We're not coming with a threat that you're going to the hospital. Now, that could be the service that ends up happening, but when they call for us, they're getting a mobile crisis behavioral health response."
Often, the team can stay longer than other first responders, freeing up much-needed resources in Muskegon County.
"We have one hospital in Muskegon County. We have one jail in Muskegon County. Those are not the right resource for either of these, for any of these folks," Drabczyk said.
The pilot program, which has already responded to nearly 80 calls, is the first official written policy like it in the state, but she hopes it will soon spread to other counties.
"I love to see the glimmer of hope that comes. When people are at their worst, they just feel helpless," Drabczyk said. "Knowing that you could be a part of their journey to show what it can be, really come up with a future, forward-thinking, and make a plan is just a really huge thing."
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