MERIDIAN, Idaho (CBS2) — The Meridian Police Department unveiled its new Mental Health Patrol SUV in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month.
The vehicle is meant to help start conversations about the Meridian police's role in helping residents with mental health. The slogan #StopTheStigma and "Mental Health Matters" are written on the sides.
Meridian mayor Robert Simison declared May Mental Health Awareness Month to promote awareness.
“We have made our officers the de facto first contact for someone in crisis," said Tracy Basterrechea, Meridian police chief. "While all of our officers receive forty hours of crisis intervention training, we now have a team of two specialty-trained officers and have paired them with a professional mental health clinician. We know there is a better way to deal with mental health in our community and we are going to work to find that way,”
The mental health awareness campaign kicks off with encouragement to parents to "check in" with their children on a regular basis to promote healthy dialogue and communication.
For urgent mental health needs, the Idaho Crisis and Suicide Hotline is a 24/7 free and confidential health crisis interventions. Call 800-273-8255, text 208-398-4357, or click HERE.
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