Measures to change the way Chicago first responders handle calls about people in mental health crises were approved today by the city council’s health and relationships committee.
Under the so-called “Non-Trauma Treatment Ordinance,” police officers are to be accompanied in such situations by a mental health doctor. The approval of the entire City Council is still required.
But mental health advocates said on Monday that they hoped the police would be completely removed from such situations.
Brighton Park Neighborhood Council youth leader Jasmine Patino told NBC Chicago that “in a mental health crisis, the police are least needed.”
The person who created the two-tiered response system in Denver, Colorado was among those who testified before the commission today.
Samantha Rabins said the city of Denver operates two intertwined response systems, one staffed by licensed clinicians and police officers for high-risk situations. The other does not require a mental health technician license in less dangerous situations.
“Having both of these clinical responses in the Denver community has been invaluable for first responders to learn from us how to better cope in the presence of someone with severe and persistent mental illness,” Rabins said.
Chicago already has a pilot crisis response program in place. Public Health Deputy Director Matt Richardson said the CDPH has responded to more than 1,000 calls without the use of force or arrests, and has not caused serious injuries to patients or police officers.
Other experts testified that a functioning city-wide system must do more than simply implement an agile crisis response program, arguing for the city to reopen community-based mental health centers it closed more than a decade ago.
Eric Reinhart, a psychoanalyst and physician, told the committee that community-based resources were important.
“Most of the mental illness and suffering in this country is preventable,” he says. “We need to invest in prevention.”
Mayor Brandon Johnson has previously said he is happy with the investment, but some witnesses to the commission said the program of mental health professionals dealing with police may not be effective.
Jariel Salinas said she wanted mental health care to treat her community more humanely. “I would like the city to shut down the money that goes to the police and take some of that money from the vacancies and add it to mental health centers,” she said.
