Community education on non-police mental health crisis response
Resident asks for public education about non-police mental health crisis response models, noting communities of color face greater harm when 911 is called and Boston lacks an alternative.
English title and summary written with AI from the resident's text.
The resident's idea, as submitted
The idea
Community education about alternative, non-police models of mental health crisis response to keep everyone safe.
Who it helps and why
Boston's working class communities of color are disproportionately at risk of harm when 911 is called, but our city doesn't have an organized alternative when someone is experiencing a mental health crisis. Many other cities have successfully developed alternatives to 911 for mental health crises leveraging public funds. But it starts with popular education about these alternative models and how they can keep everyone safe.
Details
- Cycle
- 2024–25
- Submitted
- August 16, 2024
- Neighborhood
- City-wide
- Portal category
- Public Safety
- How it was submitted
- Individual submission
- Submission language
- English
Themes grouped with AI from resident idea text.
The same need in other cycles
City-wide ideas in Mental health & substance use from the other cycles, up to 3 from each.
2026–27 (29 matching)
- Peer specialists for immigrants affected by enforcementThe resident asks to expand certified peer specialists, family partners and community health workers to provide mental health interventions for immigrants and families affected by immigration enforcement.2026–27City-wide
- More counseling services for children in needResident asks for more counseling services for children in need.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Korean
- Harm reduction and health care for unhoused peopleResident asks for harm reduction and health care for unhoused people designed with frontline workers rather than police, opposing sweeps at Mass and Cass and calling for drug decriminalization.2026–27City-wide
2025–26 (23 matching)
- Support multicultural mental health service organizationsSupport mental health organizations that serve people of all ages and cultures, with language and cultural knowledge, so all communities get fair, quality care.2025–26City-wideSubmitted in Chinese
- Coordinated stabilization services for intimate partner violence survivorsResident asks for coordinated services in the first year for survivors of intimate partner violence, saying fragmented navigation worsens outcomes and incidence has risen since COVID.2025–26City-wide
- Free youth mental health training for community adultsResident asks for free mental health training for coaches, parents, caregivers and neighbors who interact with youth, because culturally fitting clinical care is scarce.2025–26City-wide