Previously Published in The Messenger
By Matt Meduri
On Tuesday afternoon, Suffolk County unveiled a comprehensive new initiative that will connect social workers of the County’s 311 Call Center to law enforcement to better handle calls involving mental health crises.
Pursuant to this plan, trained 311 operators will take callers suffering mental health distress and connect them to County social workers, who will then work in real time with Suffolk County Police officers to provide onsite support. Participating agencies include the Department of Health, the Department of Social Services (DSS), the SCPD, and the Office of Mental Health.
County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) was joined by Suffolk County Legislators Leslie Kennedy (R-Nesconset), Dominick Thorne (R-Patchogue), Trish Bergin (R-East Islip), and Steve Flotteron (R-Brightwaters), as well as a host of personnel from the various departments in Hauppauge to announce the initiative.
“We have to take an initiative to not only protect our men and women who serve, but to also help people who have difficulties in life,” said Romaine. “We all have crazy days, but it can be a dangerous thing.”
SCPD Commissioner Kevin Catalina said that while the Behavioral Service Section has always been in the “background”, this program will help the agency that is “constantly evolving.”
“Suffolk County police officers do a phenomenal job, but one of the most complicated nuances that they respond to is behavioral health,” said Catalina. “They’re trained as EMTs, but being a trained EMT is not necessarily going to make you an expert in behavioral health.”
Catalina added that two Family Service League counselors are being directly embedded with 911 dispatchers. When calls of mental health crises come in, 911 dispatchers can hand it directly off to one of the counselors.
“They’ll be able to interface directly with the caller,” said Catalina, adding that this program has been successful in other parts of the country. “If the Family Service League counselor can take care of the situation, then those officers can be freed up to respond to violent crimes and ultimately be of help to others.”
Catalina said that the program should come online within the next couple of weeks and immediate results will be analyzed.
“We’re looking for ways to de-escalate, keep everyone as safe as possible, and prevent confrontation whenever possible,” said Romaine.
Dr. Sylvia Diaz, the County Health Commissioner and Deputy County Executive for Health and Human Services, said that the initiative is timely with October’s designation as Mental Health Awareness Month.
“This is about actions we can take in making sure that every single individual who is in crisis, every family who is in need, can find the right help at the right time. Awareness without action is meaningless,” said Diaz. “Today shows what happens when health, human services, and public safety come together. These partnerships save lives and remind us that public safety and the care of individuals must go hand-in-hand.”
Diaz said that casework staff, at present, consists of two undergraduate students from Stony Brook University who have been integrated into the 311 Call Center.
“Your compassion and skills ensure that every person who reaches out for help is met with understanding and care. We’re building a county in which care is not the exception, it is the norm,” said Diaz, adding that suffolkcountyny.gov is the “one-stop resource for prevention, education, treatment, and recovery services.”
Diaz then introduced Ryan McDonald, who at 14, arrived home to find his father suffering from an overdose. Attempts to save his life were unfortunately unsuccessful, leaving McDonald, now 21, afflicted with trauma, panic attacks, and hospital visits.
“I didn’t know who to turn to. I didn’t know how to respond,” said McDonald, adding he eventually found the help he needed, but the delay made it much more difficult to process his trauma.
“I know my story is one of many; many people go through adversity and have no idea what to do,” said McDonald. “Please don’t be afraid to ask for help. “Just as I asked for help, maybe later than I should have, I want you to ask for help as well.” McDonald is now studying psychology hoping to return the favor.
“I want to be one of the people who can make a difference for someone else in their time of need. That’s why it’s so encouraging to see our County taking action to bring more mental health resources.”
The 311 Call Center is operational Monday through Friday from 9:00a.m. to 6:00p.m., as well Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The optimal goal for the County is to make 311 available 24-7.
The SCPD still recommends that active emergencies are forwarded to 911. The 311 Call Center will not only be staffed with operators trained in 911, but also 988, the Suicide Prevention Hotline.