COMMUNITY: Needs mobile crisis teams

Recently, a family friend experienced a mental health crisis at his family’s home in Post Falls. He’s faced challenges and made questionable choices but is a kind human and one who needs help to find his purpose and his center. He is not and has never been a criminal. 

He reached a breaking point and the police responded. He was arrested in a cloud of tear gas and taken to jail, where he remains today. He needs help, not judgment. 

I hold unwavering support for our local law enforcement and the brave men and women who choose every day to keep our communities safe. In this case, they removed the “threat” — a young man who was scared, confused and perhaps even combative, but not armed. The story was splashed on local news and social media in a light that doesn’t fully acknowledge the complexity of the situation.  

I believe our community needs mobile crisis teams to work hand-in-hand with law enforcement, so that trained, unarmed teams of mental health experts are ready to assist with on-site assessment and de-escalation support. We need an alternative to jail and emergency rooms for these individuals — a crisis stabilization system to provide short-term support in a safe environment. 

With collaboration between schools, hospitals, churches, etc., we can catch problems in their infancy. We should do everything we can as a community to divert kids and young adults with mental illness away from the criminal justice system.  

Please consider asking your representatives to push for changes in North Idaho. The life a mobile crisis team could help or save may be closer to you than you realize.

CARYL THOMAS

Otis Orchards, Wash.