Mental health crisis calls are among the most time-consuming and complex situations law enforcement officers face. Responses involving mental health often leave officers tied up on scene for hours and can unintentionally escalate fragile situations. That’s where co-responder programs come in, they directly address mental health response challenges by bringing social workers directly alongside officers to improve outcomes for everyone involved.
What Separates a Mental Health Response from a Traditional One?
A mental health response is the result of phone call made to a crisis hotline or emergency service by someone experiencing a severe mental health emergency.
It typically one of the following:
- Suicidal thoughts or behaviors
- Severe anxiety or panic attacks
- Feelings of hopelessness, isolation, or depression
- Substance use crises or seeking help for addiction
- Self-harm or thoughts of self-injury
- Trauma or PTSD
- Emotional distress after a loss or major life event
- Need for support in finding resources
- Veterans mental health support
What separates a mental health response from a traditional law enforcement response is the focus on care over control. While traditional responses often prioritize securing the scene and enforcing the law, mental health responses emphasize de-escalation, clinical assessment, and connecting individuals to appropriate services. Instead of treating the person in crisis as a threat or suspect, mental health professionals shift the focus from potential arrest to potential recovery.
Co-Responder Programs as a Solution
Successful co-responder programs reduce repeat crises. Albuquerque’s COAST program connected 33% of individuals in crisis to voluntary mental health care, with only 3% requiring enforcement action.
Reducing mental health response challenges allows police to return to core public safety duties faster while behavioral health professionals take the lead in crisis care. They reduce strain on officers, improve civilian outcomes, and offer a more compassionate, coordinated response to behavioral health emergencies.
As communities seek smarter ways to respond to crises, the evidence behind co-responder teams continues to grow.
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