A program to help city employees better interact with residents experiencing mental health issues was approved Tuesday by the Greensboro City Council.
The Behavioral Health Response Program will allow city staffers to call on a mental health team during crises. Dispatched certified counselors will then assess the situation and offer recommendations.
City Councilwoman Michelle Kennedy says the idea was sparked by the 2018 death of Marcus Smith, who died in Greensboro police custody after experiencing what appeared to be a mental health episode.
“You can't police your way out of mental illness," says Kennedy. "So this is really an effort to try to make sure that people who are experiencing a behavioral health crisis get more urgent care than they would otherwise.”
The initiative was specifically designed to be available to all city employees, not just the police. Kennedy says that's because many staffers regularly interact with the public.
The program is set to officially launch early next year.