The holidays can
be a particularly stressful time for individuals at risk for mental health
issues. Parties, large family gatherings, and other seasonal events can
exacerbate raw feelings and create negative
situations. If feelings of discontent are
combined with alcohol or drugs used to self-medicate, a hostile
environment may result.
As first
responders to all too many heart-wrenching scenarios, the Calvert County
Sheriff’s Office is well aware that the holidays provide not only opportunities
for increased crime but also an increase
in calls related to people experiencing mental health crises. For this reason,
Sheriff Mike Evans has partnered with the Southern Maryland Community Network's
Community Behavioral Liaison Program (CBHL), adding a mental health component
to his maximum deployment operations. Behavioral Health Liaison Susan Onofrio
is a clinician who provides access to community resources for those
experiencing mental health crises in Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s Counties,
and is prepared to respond to calls when a mental health crisis is suspected.
“With saturation
patrols to capture drunk drivers and enhanced robbery patrols, we strategically
deploy our resources during the holiday season to
provide a safe holiday experience for everyone in the community. In addition to
these concerns, we are also prepared for
those who might be experiencing a mental health crisis,” says Sheriff Mike
Evans. “Our officers have been undergoing Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)
training in order to learn to recognize
and respond appropriately to presenting signs of mental illness, and we have
partnered with a Behavioral Health Liaison to offer on-scene resources and
alternatives to arrest for these individuals.”
The benefits of
the partnership between the Sheriff's Office and the CBHL are many. While deputies arranged for the person in
crisis to be transported to Calvert Memorial Hospital under an emergency
petition, the family is provided with a list of resources that could be
utilized during this time of crisis and beyond.
Patrice Duperval,
LCSW-C, Director of Case Management from the Southern Maryland Community
Network comments, “These calls are an example of a situation where the Liaison
is able to be the calm after the storm,” providing a benefit from on-going
services.”
Aware that the
deputies regularly have interactions with individuals suffering from mental
health crises, the Liaison explained how she can
assist law enforcement in providing these individuals and their families with
the care and resources they need. Such assistance can ultimately reduce
recidivism on the part of these individuals,
lowering repeat 911 calls, and increasing safety for individuals, officers, and
the community.
The CIT-trained
deputies are able to use the skills they had learned to identify those
exhibiting signs of a mental illness, and then employ those skills to
de-escalate potentially dangerous situations. From there, the Liaison supplies
the individual involved with links to appropriate community resources and
referrals for proper treatment, including personalized safety planning.
Captain David
Payne, says, “As deputies, we see
first-hand the value of this partnership. Someone knowledgeable outside of the
department can come in and tell those suffering about available resources,
without having to “police” or arrest anyone. Traditionally, such individuals
would soon be back in the community, experiencing the same issues. When
appropriate, this collaboration between our office with the Behavioral Health
Liaison gives officers a valuable option to individuals in mental health crisis
outside of interactions with the Justice System and Emergency Rooms.
Questions about
the program should be directed to Dfc. Nick DeFelice at 410-535-2800.
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| Sheriff Evans and Susan Onofrio |
