I think, obviously, when you look at the fact that so many of our jails are filled with people with mental illnesses and addictions, that clearly a better response than occupying police time would be to make sure that proper first responder teams are in place who are mental health first aid responders and of the like.
Kennedy emphasizes the need for mental health responders instead of police for mental health crises.
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More from Patrick J. Kennedy
We keep these illnesses secret. And these illnesses being secret are the reason why they are exacerbated.
We have got to address the stigma, and we have got to put the resources behind these efforts.
If this were any other issue we would move heaven and Earth to deal with it. In COVID we responded right away, everybody inoculation, everybody out there. The longest impact of COVID is going to be mental health, and yet, we don't treat it.