The City of Oklahoma City will transmit this information as follows:
Residents interested in learning more about Oklahoma City’s mental health response efforts can read the comprehensive report at okc.gov/mentalhealth The 20-page report is titled “Making Change, Oklahoma City’s Mental Health Services,” and is part of an effort to inform residents about the city’s mental health-related programs and services.
“For many years, the City has diligently expanded its resource base for residents experiencing a mental health crisis, working with the community to establish benchmarks for comprehensive behavioral health services and address gaps in the process,” said Deputy City Manager Jason Farbrush. “This report demonstrates the City’s commitment to improving mental health services in our community.”
Report:
- Outline the city’s goals for providing services to people in crisis.
- Learn about the City’s key services, protocols and resources.
- Compare city services to federal guidelines.
- Includes real-life examples of mental health responses.
“This report highlights the dedication of our officers to the well-being of our community and connecting residents with resources that meet their needs,” Oklahoma City Police Chief Wade Gourley said. “By partnering with local mental health service providers, we are able to provide public safety and specialized mental health services at the same time.”
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), roughly 1 in 25 adults in the U.S. lives with a serious mental illness. In 2023, less than 1% of 18,614 mental health-related calls to 911 resulted in an arrest.
“Our number one priority is connecting people in crisis to mental health professionals as quickly and safely as possible,” said Lt. Vanessa Hurd, commander of the Oklahoma City Police Department’s Crisis Intervention Team.
Two new programs highlighted in the report are the Oklahoma City Fire Department’s Crisis Call Transfer Unit and Crisis Response Team, which are funded in the city’s FY25 budget.
“Our new Crisis Call Diversion Unit adds mental health professionals to 911,” said Oklahoma City Fire Chief Richard Kelly. “When someone experiencing a mental health crisis calls 911, a counselor will stabilize them and refer them to services or we will dispatch a crisis response team made up of Fire Department paramedics and mental health professionals. We are pleased to be able to even better serve our residents with this improved approach.”
To read the report and learn more about OKC’s mental health crisis response, visit okc.gov/mentalhealth.
Free Press handpicks press releases from organizations and people we know can be trusted, so if you’d like to submit a great press release for publication on our site, click on the email icon at the top of this page.
