Chicago’s pilot program to send emergency responders to people experiencing a mental health crisis has shown “promising” results, though some interagency challenges must be addressed to improve outcomes, according to a report published last week by the University of Chicago. [Health News Illinois]

Specifically, participants reported that their distress level dropped by an average of 19 percent after interacting with clinicians. 

About 40 percent of the people served by response teams presented symptoms of schizophrenia, depression, anxiety and substance use disorder. Over 30 percent presented symptoms of self-harm or the use of alcohol or non-prescribed drugs.

Teams responded to more than 1,300 events during the two-year pilot period, serving 673 individuals. The number of calls that teams successfully responded to increased by 37 percent over the pilot period.

Teams operate Monday through Friday between 10:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

However, challenges remain as far as coordination among the various city agencies, specifically as it relates to data collection. The report noted the importance of agency collaboration to create new policies and procedures to ensure the program runs efficiently.

“We hope that our findings provide practical insights for Chicago, and for other communities across America that seek to improve mental health crisis response,” Harold Pollack, the co-director of the University of Chicago Health Lab, said in a statement.

The pilot was a partnership between the Chicago Mayor’s Office, the Chicago Department of Public Health, the Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communication, the Chicago Fire Department and the Chicago Police Department. The agencies worked together to test three healthcare-based alternate response team models.

Deputy Mayor of Community Safety Garien Gatewood said the report is a “critical validator as we work to expand (the program) and permanently solidify it as part of our first responder ecosystem.” 

“(The program) is critical to fulfilling Mayor (Brandon) Johnson’s vision for a robust continuum of care and ensuring that all Chicagoans experiencing behavioral health crises receive a behavioral health response,” Gatewood said.

The city announced this fall that the staffing model for the program will transition entirely to public health employees.

Look for more information on IOMC's Behavioral Health webinar on Jan. 28th, 2025 at Noon CT. 

###