911 Dispatchers Say They Need More Training and Resources for Mental Health Crisis Calls

One out of every five calls that come into 911 dispatchers involves a mental health or substance use crisis. Some police departments have special crisis teams to respond in those cases. But a study just released by the Pew Charitable Trusts found that very few 911 call centers have given their staff specialized training to deal with mental health crises. Tiffany Russell directs the Pew Charitable Trust’s mental health and justice efforts.