Lafayette, Louisiana – A promising initiative aimed at enhancing the response to potential mental health crises in the Lafayette area has been shelved indefinitely, raising questions about the most effective approach to address mental health issues within the community.
The proposal, initially put forth by Ness Healthcare, a nonprofit behavioral healthcare provider, suggested a collaborative effort between mental health experts and local law enforcement. Under this concept, both professionals would jointly respond to calls flagged as potential mental health crises, particularly those involving homeless residents. The primary objective was to ensure individuals received the appropriate assistance they needed, steering away from the conventional approach of arrests and allowing neighborhoods to grapple with unaddressed mental health concerns among their homeless population.
Similar programs have seen success in cities nationwide, garnering praise for their effectiveness. However, this week, the proposal was sidelined in favor of a reset, prompted by lingering doubts about the nonprofit’s methodology and suitability.
City Councilman Glenn Lazard, an advocate for the reboot, indicated a preference for more localized service providers, thus advocating for a fresh approach. This decision had the backing of the Lafayette Police Department, which had originally sponsored the proposal on the council’s agenda.
Ness Healthcare, known for operating the Northlake Behavioral Health Center in Mandeville, recently established an office in Lafayette and has earned recognition as one of the state’s preferred partners in addressing the ongoing mental health crisis. Their focus primarily centers on providing mobile crisis response, involving the dispatch of mental health professionals to the scene.
Joe Buckley, CEO of Northlake Behavioral, who has acted as Ness’s representative in Lafayette, emphasized the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of this approach, contrasting it with the traditional response involving police lights, sirens, and commotion.
The model, referred to as Police-Mental Health Collaboration (PMHC), has gained widespread adoption. Notably, a program in Nashville transitioned into a permanent initiative after a year-long pilot demonstrated that merely 4% of calls resulted in arrests. Instead, a significant number of individuals were directed to emergency departments, inpatient facilities, or a newly established Crisis Treatment Center. Similarly, a program in Alexandria, Virginia, led to more on-scene resolutions, fewer arrests in mental health-related incidents, and increased referrals to essential services.
The Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance advocates for PMHC initiatives, asserting that they can yield better public health outcomes, enhance the daily lives of individuals with behavioral health needs, and elevate the overall quality of policing.
Both Ness’s proposed collaboration with the Lafayette Police Department and its participation in the state’s crisis response plan hinge on mental health professionals responding directly to calls and offering alternative solutions to incarceration or emergency room visits.
The pressing need for such initiatives is apparent. Data from the Louisiana Department of Health’s Office of Behavioral Health revealed that between April 2022 and March 2023, there were 4,695 emergency room visits in Acadiana with mental health as the primary diagnosis.
Moreover, Lafayette Consolidated Government (LCG) has faced mounting pressure from neighborhoods with high concentrations of homeless individuals, urging authorities to address the issue. Tensions escalated during recent community meetings in the LaPlace/Fightinville neighborhood near Downtown, where Chief Judith Estorge acknowledged her officers’ limitations in managing the complex problems associated with homelessness.
A parallel collaboration involving Ness as the mental health team is currently in its seventh week in Slidell, Louisiana. Fire Chief Chris Kaufmann, leading the pilot program, reported positive results thus far. Kaufmann expressed optimism about refining the initiative and expanding its coverage parish-wide.
A significant benefit of the program has been the direct connection established between individuals in crisis, first responders, law enforcement, and Ness’s local facilities, namely, the Ness Center in Lafayette and the Northlake Behavioral Hospital in nearby Mandeville.
Even without outpatient and inpatient resources managed by the same provider, the inclusion of Ness staff on calls has proved advantageous. They play a pivotal role in persuading individuals to consider accepting help, a challenge initially underestimated by Kaufmann’s department.
Kaufmann remarked, “They are able to address the root problem,” referring to the mental health professionals now accompanying first responders on scene. “There’s no question it has value.”
While the source of funding for a new pilot program remains uncertain, Councilman Glenn Lazard affirmed a commitment to do whatever is necessary to implement the program. However, he declined to comment on whether Ness Healthcare would continue to be considered as a partner in any future initiatives, provided they are still interested.
The fate of this promising collaboration now hangs in the balance, as stakeholders grapple with the best course of action to address the critical issue of mental health crises in the Lafayette community.
