AKRON, Ohio — The city of Akron is stepping up its efforts to make citizens' mental health a priority.
On Monday, City Council voted to approve an $85,000 contract with the Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health Services Board (ADM) to establish what they're calling SCOUT, or the Summit County Outreach Team.
It's a first of its kind in Ohio, with a three-member team aboard a vehicle with access to 911 and 988 calls. The unit, comprised of specially trained first responders, will work to de-escalate mental health crises.
"Hopefully it's somewhat more preventive," Dr. Doug Smith, chief clinician with Summit County ADM, said. "Let's go out before the crisis hits some crescendo where there's really no alternative but to take them — sometimes by force — to get treatment."
SCOUT's three-member format includes a paramedic from the Akron Fire Department, an Akron police officer, and a clinician from Portage Path Behavior Health. Smith says the classes to train these first responders are crucial, since they're dealing with mental health calls.
"Other CIT officers who've seen a lot of this on the street, they are actors and actresses that day, and we have our officers and paramedics going to de-escalate them in real time," Smith explained. "For that many of them, it's life-changing, and then six months later, after they've been doing it, they're able to really see, 'Oh wow.' And guess what? If they don't need to go hands-on, they stay safer, and so do the citizens."
Currently, 88 counties have implemented a crisis intervention team; however, Smith says since the pandemic, mental illness numbers have risen. Having services like SCOUT helps remove the stigma and encourages people to ask for help.
"It demonstrates that collaboration can occur and come to fruition, which is very, very powerful. It will, in fact, help a lot of people and their families," Smith added. "We're pretty resource rich in Summit County, so they will see that there are resources, they'll get those resources, and then that'll improve their wellness, and that's great for every citizen."
SCOUT is expected to launch in spring of 2024. For now, the team will work a day shift, but it plans to expand into a 24-hour service in the future.
The U.S. suicide and crisis lifeline is available 24/7 by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org.
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