We need a 4th emergency service for people in crisis to just evac them from bad situations, almost like the witness protection.
We need a 4th emergency service for people in crisis to just evac them from bad situations, almost like the witness protection.
I don't want to get too political in shower thoughts, but this would solve a lot of the hot button issues if more people just had safer and supportive environments to escape to and volunteers / paid professionals to help them on the other end.
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The city I live in has a "crisis services" unit for mental health crises, drug abuse related crises, welfare checks, psychiatric evaluation for hospitalization, and so on.
I've used one of these before. The main problem is that you're often put on a hold for at least 72 hours.
And while this does help get you out of that immediate crisis, missing 3 days of work and pay can actually put you in a worse position when you get out.
And mental institution stays aren't always super helpful for long-term mental health. Many of them are as bad, if not worse than being in jail.
Same with my city. During the defund the police talk they made national news as an alternative to armed police response to mental health crisises.
Pretty much everyone in the USA is served by mobile crisis teams. 988 will connect you to one
Is there a 3 digit number you can call?
988 anywhere in the USA
988 is a phenomenal, life-saving service, but unfortunately they don't help you get in touch with services to get out of dangerous situations.
There is the National Domestic Violence hotline, but they're A) run by a private organization, and B) literally hang up on you unless you're experienceing "intimate partner violence"-- because apparently all other forms of domestic violence don't count!!!
Sure, I’m not talking about OP’s post, but about the crisis services. 988 can get you in touch with local services, but mostly therapy.
That’s interesting about the domestic violence hotline.
I am no longer one of the 86% of Americans who never heard of this
Pretty new. Only existed for like a year now
Biggest problem is that you'd need the services everywhere for a 3-digit number to make sense.
Now if there was a 3-digit number that'd connect you to all the misc government services in your area, that'd be another thing.
In some cities 211 goes pretty far, but I don't know how responsive they are.
We have crisis intervention teams that are dispatched by 911 or the non-emergency police line. They are like ambulances with a nurse or EMT and a crisis worker.