Baldwin County, Alabama (WALA) – Alabama’s mental health crisis is only getting worse, and with no state agency left to help with the problem, more and more mental health patients end up in prison. is placed in Efforts are currently underway to address this issue.
The partnership between AltaPointe Health and law enforcement is focused on getting these people the help they need before they end up in prison. The results so far speak for themselves.
Baldwin County law enforcement faces significant challenges, but they hope to overcome them with the right training and resources. Lawmakers completed an important training course on Friday, January 20, 2023. This helps assess and escalate field situations involving subjects with altered mental status or disabilities. It happens often.
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“There’s always a component in potentially every call that can be mixed in,” said Capt. Andre Reid of the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office. If it’s a criminal act then you know there’s a certain way we have to handle things if it’s not a criminal act the training here today I hope it helps you deal with it.”
It’s not just training to assess a given situation that makes it work. AltaPointe Health’s partnership with the Behavioral Health Crisis Center and his 23-hour outpatient program is helping people get the help they need. If an individual has not committed a criminal offense and is determined to need clinical assistance, a trained crisis intervention medical professional from AltaPointe Health may be called instead of a police officer seeking backup.
“They learn how to talk to people and convince them to go there rather than meet them in person, and there is a risk of violence and injury to the officers themselves,” explained AltaPointe’s. Dr. Cindy Gipson.
Mental health problems are pervasive, according to medical experts, caused by intense feelings of drug or alcohol abuse or clinical disorders.
There have been two recent instances of individuals with mental health issues requesting tactical response teams from law enforcement agencies. In November, a Lillian man was peacefully taken into custody after Baldwin County lawmakers persuaded him. Captain Reed, who is also the head of the Baldwin County Major Crimes Division, said he made the right decision.
“I applaud the Daphne Police Department for making the tough decision that they probably need to back out, but once they make that decision, it’s the right thing for everyone,” Reid said.
AltaPointe’s 23-hour program has already proven to be a valuable asset to law enforcement agencies since its launch in May 2021. Since then, over 300 people have been brought to the Crisis Center for help. Of those, Dr. Gipson said 90% remained in mental health treatment programs.
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