When someone is experiencing a mental Health crisis, the last thing they need is to be met with handcuffs and a police cruiser. Unfortunately, this has been the reality for many individuals in the District of Columbia, including Chioma Oruh’s brother, who lived with schizophrenia for 47 years.
Despite needing care, individuals in mental health crises often find themselves being handled by law enforcement rather than healthcare professionals. This treatment has been seen as a form of discrimination against people with disabilities, as highlighted in a recent lawsuit filed by the ACLU on behalf of Bread for the City, a nonprofit organization in D.C.
While mental health awareness has made strides in recent years, the response to mental health crises continues to be led by the police in many cases. This can be traumatic and stigmatizing for those involved, leading to unnecessary harm and distress.
Efforts to address this issue, such as the ICAT training program for police officers and the community response team (CRT), are steps in the right direction. However, more needs to be done to ensure that individuals in mental health crises receive the appropriate care and support they need.
It is time for our leaders to take action and prioritize mental health care as a fundamental aspect of overall health care. By shifting the response to mental health crises away from law enforcement and towards trained professionals, we can work towards creating a more compassionate and effective system for those in need.
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