Indy Expands Reach Of Mental Health Crisis Response Team
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INDIANAPOLIS — The city of Indianapolis is expanding its team of clinicians trained to respond to situations where a person is having a mental health crisis.
The crisis response team has mainly operated in the downtown and east side of the Capitol City, but now the team is getting the resources it needs to expand it’s reach to the north side of the city. This mainly encompasses IMPD’s North District.
The premise of the response team is to have mental health professionals respond to those in crisis without having to involve the police, though some times the police are needed in certain situations.
Still, Andrea Brown, who is the director of operations at Stepping Stones Therapy Center and an organizer of the Clinician-Led Community Response program, said the expansion will help those who need it.
“Through it all, safety and support remain at the heart of CLCR’s mission,” she said. “Our team is thoroughly trained to handle a range of situations in ways that honor a person’s experience and maintain their dignity. With every call we’ve answered, our goal is to help resolve the immediate crisis in a way that is respectful and safe.”
The city said this team has taken 925 calls and assisted 650 people since Jan. 1.
