Q&A
Comparison of mental health crisis response programs across cities
0:32:14
·
5 min
Council Member Cabán presents statistics on community responder programs in various U.S. cities, highlighting their low rates of police involvement. She then asks if people with mental health issues in New York City are fundamentally different or more dangerous than those in other cities. Panel members respond, emphasizing that mental illness is not a crime and questioning the effectiveness of the current system in New York City.
- Statistics from Denver, San Diego, Albuquerque, and Oakland show very low rates of police involvement in mental health crisis responses
- Panel members argue that New Yorkers with mental health issues are not inherently more dangerous than those in other cities
- Discussion on the need for a different dispatch system and the importance of appropriate training for responders
- Criticism of the current system in New York City and calls for adopting successful models from other cities
Tiffany Cabán
0:32:14
I just I just wanted to ask you all a question.
0:32:17
I I think it's a a pretty simple one.
0:32:19
So I I've had the privilege through an organization called local progress to visit a lot of alternate responders around the country even with the CCIT member Evelyn who has testified here before you know, Denver, Portland, these different places.
0:32:36
So I just want to read a couple of statistics to you, and then I'll I'll pose my question.
0:32:41
Community responder programs around the country.
0:32:43
So the Denver Star program, they have responded to several thousand cases and in those responses, not once have they called in the police.
0:32:58
San Diego's mobile crisis this team responded in in over 3 years to or over 13,000 calls, 98%, they did not call in armed law enforcement.
0:33:08
So only 2% of the time did they call police.
0:33:13
So the and we're seeing Albuquerque Community Safety Department out of 8000 calls, only 1% of the calls were sent to police, Oakland macro program out of 10,000 calls less than 1% were transferred to the police.
0:33:30
We're gonna hear from the administration the percentage of which be heard has then called in police backup.
0:33:37
But my question for you is this.
0:33:39
These are all cities around the country.
0:33:41
In your personal experience, in your professional opinion, are folks struggling with mental health diagnoses or mental health incidents in other cities fundamentally any different than those in New York City.
0:33:58
Are New York City folks who are struggling with mental health issues more dangerous than the children of the mental health diagnosis outside of New York City?
Linda Lee
0:34:08
Sorry.
0:34:08
We just need to keep it quiet in the chambers.
0:34:10
Thank you.
Jordyn Rosenthal
0:34:16
So
Linda Lee
0:34:20
okay.
0:34:27
Okay.
0:34:27
Sorry.
0:34:28
If you could just hold off on that.
0:34:29
Hold on one second.
0:34:31
Sorry.
0:34:31
Just hold on one second while we wait.
Tiffany Cabán
0:34:41
Thank thank thanks for your patience, Jill.
0:34:43
And you you guys heard my my question.
0:34:45
Right?
0:34:45
Okay.
Jordyn Rosenthal
0:34:47
So I know we're not allowed to hold up signs in here, but is it okay if I hold up my bag?
0:34:52
It just has all its phrase on it that I think all counsel should see.
Tiffany Cabán
0:35:01
And just for their consent,
Jordyn Rosenthal
0:35:03
mental illness is not a crime.
0:35:06
And I think that really speaks to what you're talking about.
0:35:09
It's not that people in New York have more mental health concerns than anywhere else.
0:35:14
I mean, we do live in a very stressful city where, you know, it can take a toll on us.
0:35:19
But I don't think also that people are necessarily more violent here either or anything like that.
0:35:24
I think violence is a concept, and what is what violent to one person is very different for another person.
0:35:31
And part of the reason I'm so passionate about moving to 988 is that 911 operators have some of the most stressful jobs in the United States.
0:35:42
And they actually have their own mental health concerns, which just make them appear, you know, But because of that high stress job and not necessarily having the training specifically in mental health triage and types of, like, dispatch and that type of thing, we need a different type of system.
0:36:00
That can actually dispatch responses that's, like, that's able to kind of take into account what this type of situation needs.
0:36:10
And I don't think that, you know, 911 operators are the appropriate responder for that.
Linda Lee
0:36:15
Thank you.
UNKNOWN
0:36:16
Thank you.
0:36:16
And that
Linda Lee
0:36:16
is something that we're gonna delve into too.
0:36:19
Okay.
0:36:20
Any other questions for this panel?
0:36:21
If not Okay.
0:36:23
Sorry to that.
0:36:24
Mhmm.
Peggy Herrera
0:36:25
Sure.
0:36:26
While the mayor is saying that it's working and he put out data saying it's working, who is it really working for?
0:36:33
Because of a person in crisis who's having a real serious crisis, and they saved a weapon involved while they're violent.
0:36:41
So what does violence what does he what does he consider violence to be?
0:36:45
Because they're in a crisis.
0:36:46
And if you show up with a gun, you're gonna shoot to kill them as opposed to trying to deescalate the situation.
0:36:53
Police have made the system, have made us feel isolated and traumatized, the STAR program.
0:36:59
It works.
0:36:59
All the other programs work.
0:37:01
Why does it not work here?
0:37:02
We need to mirror what they're doing.
0:37:04
Whatever they're doing is working.
0:37:06
What we're doing here is not working, and they're not listening to us because those closer to the problem are closer to the solution.
0:37:13
We understand what is needed, and so we are trying to tell you.
0:37:16
And in 2019, I was arrested.
0:37:18
And in 2024, we're still saying the same thing, and no one's changing anything, and we're having success in other cities, then it's because the system is not listening to us.
Alex Brass
0:37:27
And one more thing to add.
0:37:29
New York City is often touted as the greatest city in the world.
0:37:33
And as Peggy is saying, these other cities have shown proven models.
0:37:37
We don't have to reinvent the wheel, and it's you know, sad that we're we're still at where we're at right now.
Linda Lee
0:37:44
Thank you.
