NEW YORK — A mental health first aid program is expanding from harlem north of Manhattan and south of the Bronx.
The initiative, called “B-Heard,” uses paramedics and social workers, rather than police officers, to address mental health emergencies.
But, as CBS2’s Aundrea Cline-Thomas reported Tuesday, critics warn it could be dangerous.
A simulation used for training shows first responders arriving at a domestic violence call between a mother and her child. But instead of the police, two EMTs and a social worker show up for what is classified as a mental health emergency.
“Our main goal is to give them space to vent and say what they need and build trust.” fdny EMT Edward Medina said.
That’s why the program is called B-Heard, short for Behavioral Health Emergency Assistance.
First tested in Harlem last June, it is now expanding to washington heights, In wood and the south bronxareas with the highest volumes of 911 calls.
The teams focus on de-escalating while conducting an on-site mental health assessment, a stark difference from the police.
“We train in a different way than PD, so while we’re thinking about safety, we’re also thinking about how a person in the moment gets what they need,” B-Heard Mental Health Team Supervisor Francisco Rivera said.
B-Heard teams do not respond to emergencies involving weapons or other violent incidents.
They can also call the police for backup.
But critics warn that circumstances can change in a minute, like the deadly shooting of new york police Det. Jason Rivera and Wilbert Mora, who were responding to a domestic violence call in East Harlem in January.
“That could have easily been our team. On every call, I tell them to keep their heads in a spin at all times,” B-Head Commander Capt. Ronald Floyd said.
Crews undergo safety training and say they haven’t had any close calls so far, adding that most incidents are resolved on scene.
And for those who need more help, they are connected to treatment in the community.
“Very few people have refused to meet with a social worker,” said Janine Perazzo, senior director of NYC Health + Hospitals.
It is an important change to treat mental health as a medical crisis and not a public safety emergency.
Callers using 911 cannot request a B-Heard kit. Dispatchers determine where they are sent based on the incident description, location, and other criteria.
A new training class for program graduates on Friday. The expansion of the program will begin in the coming weeks.
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