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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Alex Brass, Steering Committee Member of Correct Crisis Intervention Today (CCIT) NYC, on Mental Health Crisis Response
0:28:58
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135 sec
Alex Brass shared his personal experience with a mental health crisis and police response, highlighting the need for peer support and non-police interventions. He emphasized how police involvement exacerbated his crisis and led to two years of stigma and shame.
- Brass advocated for peer support as a crucial component of mental health crisis response and recovery.
- He mentioned other cases of negative or fatal police interactions during mental health crises, including the death of Ernst Pierre.
- Brass stressed the importance of having someone to talk to and listen during a crisis, rather than a police response.
Alex Brass
0:28:58
Hi.
0:28:58
Thank you, chair Salam, chair Lee, chair Ariola, and chair now a season of 1 else here today.
0:29:03
My name is Alex Brass.
0:29:05
I'm a steering committee member of CCIT NYC in January of 2022.
0:29:11
I was experiencing a mental health crisis.
0:29:13
My parents called 911.
0:29:16
As soon as that occurred, my mental health crisis went into a high gear.
0:29:20
And the police responded, there was about 4 or 5 police officers.
0:29:26
When I saw them, things got even worse.
0:29:29
I simply needed someone to to speak with, someone to, you know, who could listen to me.
0:29:34
And instead, when the police responded, that this made me feel more lonely.
0:29:38
The following 2 years were consumed by stigma, shame from my experience.
0:29:46
I was a nonfunctional member of society.
0:29:50
And now one time during those 2 years did I have a peer to interact with.
0:29:56
Thankfully, I got involved in advocacy work, I seeked out peers, and that's been a big part of my recovery.
0:30:02
I also had access to resources, that most individuals do not have.
0:30:08
And unfortunately, my experience is the most mild police interaction that I've heard of today.
0:30:16
We have situation like Peggy and Peggy's son.
0:30:21
We also have situations for individuals who are no longer with us.
0:30:26
I I just met Roland Pierre, whose younger brother was killed by the police after He called the police himself.
0:30:35
His name is Ernst Pierre, and that was on December 20 2021.
0:30:40
And this is continuing to happen.
0:30:44
I also have friends who I have I have one friend who's had 20 plus police interactions.
0:30:51
Once again, she needs someone to speak with, someone that can listen to her.
0:30:55
She's called the police herself several times, and not once to do the police ask her how she's feeling.
0:31:01
Through my own peer work, I've seen the value of connecting with individuals, the trust that can be gained through someone with a lived experience without the inherent power dynamics with the police.
0:31:13
Thank you.