COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Columbus City Council approved $1.2 million in February to create a nonpolice response pilot program for non-violent service calls that included responding to people having a mental health crisis.
“We need individuals who are trained appropriately,” Disability Rights Ohio executive director Kerstin Sjoberg said. “Trained professionals that can respond to a mental health crisis.”
A framework for the program was created by several local advocacy groups. The plan put people on the front lines answering calls who have first-hand knowledge and experience on how to respond to a mental health crisis,substance abuse problem, or non-violent incident.