INDIANAPOLIS — When you dial 911, you may be used to hearing “what’s your location?” But now in Marion County, there’s a new question for emergencies:
“Is this a police, fire, mental health or EMS emergency?”
While all of these calls have to have quick responses, dispatchers now have a different way to respond to mental health emergencies.
“This helps people when they are going through tough situations, and it also helps us to ask the proper questions to be able to help them and assist them with what they are needing,” Paulette Rizomendoza said.
Rizomendoza says she takes mental health calls almost daily, and the response requires extra attention.
“The lives of people are basically depending on us at that moment,” Rizomendoza said.
The push from her and other dispatchers is to de-escalate situations before resorting to call in law enforcement.
“If we can avoid sending police officers to a run that’s not really police-related, we want to be able to get the proper service out there,” MESA Chief Tom Sellas said.
So, what is that service if a caller does have a mental health emergency?
The city’s Clinician Led Community Response Team will go to that caller’s location, provide a safe environment and walk them through that crisis, then give them the next steps for support.
“We are able to go to people wherever they are in the community and provide immediate support and services,” clinician Haleigh Rigger said. “I think this addresses a lot of barriers to access for folks.”
It’s not only licensed mental health professionals who intervene, but also peer support specialists in recovery who have gone through what the person is dealing with.
“Having a peer on scene gives a sense of you because you are showing the example that recovery is possible, this isn’t your lot in life,” Eric Arnold said.
Once the CLCR team makes that immediate response, they can also connect the caller with other therapists or programs throughout the city.
To contact Indy’s CLCR, you can call 317-941-7387.
Suicide resources
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, help is available.
You can always call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for immediate help, or you can chat with them online.
The state has a list of resources to help, including resources focused on youth.