Great Ideas 2020: A Look Ahead at Mental Health Response

How Will Law Enforcement’s Response to Mental Health Evolve in the Next Five Years?

As society continues to turn to law enforcement to help and properly respond to people who are living with mental illness, changes in training and policies will be required. However, these changes may be only a small portion of a truly effective, efficient, and thoughtful response. As law enforcement agencies continue to become more involved with assisting people living with mental illness through proactive programs and outreach initiatives, communities will continue expecting these services to be the responsibility of the police, who, while willing to help, are not properly equipped to do so alone.