Mental health co-responders - # of persons diverted to a lower level of care
Mental Health Contacts Diverted to Lower Level Care
ANNUAL REVIEW
The number of individuals that were encountered by co-responders that were deterred to less restrictive and/or less costly interventions in lieu of incarceration, hospilization, emergency room treatment, etc. Target is to increase over prior year.
Persons with mental illness end up in jails and emergency rooms at a higher rate than the general population. What is intended as a last resort is often a first stop for people struggling with a mental illness. This does not benefit the individual, does not contribute to public safety, and negatively impacts medical costs.