In the state, we have about 2,500 sworn law enforcement officers, but we only have around 85 crisis workers, and so…
we are asking law enforcement to fill in the gaps for a very depleted mental health system,” says NAMI Maine’s Senior Clinical Director of Community Programs, Hannah Longely, LCSW.”
This article goes into detail with how the academy is training & strives to incorporate careful education for cadets on calls regarding homelessness, mental health, substance use disorder, and other crises.