Fort Worth police improve mental health response

According to Fort Worth Police Department officials, the Crisis Intervention Team is making strides in improving the interaction between law enforcement and individuals experiencing mental health crises.

The Crisis Intervention Team’s mission is to foster communication with the behavioral health community and develop solutions to assist those in need. The goal is to reduce involvement with the criminal justice system.

What you need to know: According to a news release, the CIT has partnered with My Health My Resources of Tarrant County law liaisons, who are experts in mental health, to proactively engage with individuals who may pose a threat to the community due to their mental health conditions.

Diving in deeper: According to the news release, by providing guidance in areas, such as training, policy, procedures and oversight, the CIT aims to improve the safety of both officers and the community at large. In addition to their proactive efforts, the CIT also provides information about available mental health resources to the community.

• MHMR of Tarrant County iCare is one such resource, which can be reached at 817-335-3022.

• The National Suicide Hotline, which can be reached by dialing 988 from any phone, is another resource for those in need.

• The John Peter Smith Hospital psychiatric emergency line can be reached at 817-702-3636.

• The CIT also encourages individuals and families affected by mental illness to visit www.nami.org, the website for the National Alliance on Mental Illness. NAMI provides advocacy, education, support and public awareness to help individuals build better lives.

According to the news release, the CIT’s efforts to bridge the gap between law enforcement and the behavioral health community have already shown promising results in Fort Worth.