Contacting Law Enforcement, Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management Teams, or a Mental Health Specialist

Not everyone is comfortable directly engaging with someone they are concerned about. That is okay. In other instances, you may feel comfortable engaging that person, but are unsure what to do or uncertain if this is a serious concern. In these instances, you should talk to someone about what you have seen, heard, or learned about.  

There are three resources you should consider: law enforcement officials, Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management Teams, or a specially trained mental health professional. Your decision to reach out to one or more of these individuals will depend on the behaviors you have seen, heard, or learned about. What is important is that you don’t wait to reach out for advice. 

If you are considering contacting law enforcement, you should be aware that your local police may operate Crisis Intervention Teams or Co-Responder or Alternative Response Programs. Many local police departments and county sheriff’s offices have existing crisis intervention teams or co-responder or alternative response programs. Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT) are made up of officers who have received specialized training on how to manage 911 or non-emergency calls for service involving persons who may be experiencing mental health crises. Co-responder programs involve first responder teams made up of specially trained officers and social workers who together respond to calls for service involving behavioral health concerns, while alternative response programs involve calls handled directly by behavioral health specialists. Your community may have one or more of these initiatives already in place, and officers associated with these programs may be a good resource. 

Before contacting one of these resources, you should be prepared to talk about the following: 

• What you saw, heard, or learned about and who is involved 
• When and where you saw, heard, or learned about the information
• Description of the concerning behavior and why you feel concerned
• Other questions or issues you would like to discuss in relation to the identified concern