City leaders discuss mental health team

Area leaders took steps toward creating a mobile mental health team envisioned by city and county law enforcement officials in a bid to keep residents with mental health issues out of jail and in treatment.

Young County officials proposed funding the new program mostly through a newstate grant program. The county would chip in up to 10 percent of the estimated twoyear budget of $1.3 million.

Olney Mayor Rue Rogers and Graham Mayor Alex Heartfield met with Young County Judge Win Graham on June 24 to discuss a plan to divide the matching funds among the cities and county based on population.

Both mayors said they supported the program and pledged to bring it before their City Councils as they discuss their fiscal year 2024 budgets.

The Olney City Council discussed the plan to create the mobile team consisting of a law enforcement officer trained in mental health intervention, a nurse or emergency medical technician, a social worker and a peer counselor.

The budget would allow for three teams to provide 24-hour coverage for crisis intervention as well as home visits for people receiving mental health treatment. The teams would ensure that clients have access to medication and treatment, and would connect clients and their families with support services.

Chief Dan Birbeck said the team would build relationships with their mental health clients, reducing the chances of adverse outcomes betwen law enforcement and people experiencing mental health crises.

“The concept is decriminalizing mental health. This is not just a Young County problem - this is a United States problem,” Judge Graham said. “People with mental health [issues] are getting in trouble, they are getting arrested and there is no place to put them so they are being put in jail. And that’s the worst place you can put them because they are not criminals. They are not getting the help they need.”

The Olney City Council and County Commissioners discussed the program at their June 26 meetings.

The Graham City Council is scheduled to discuss the program at its July 6 meeting.