While May is designated as Mental Health Awareness Month, EPPD staff work with people dealing with mental health crises on a daily basis.

To date in 2024 we’ve responded to 107 calls for a person in crisis, seven suicide attempt calls and 14 suicide threat calls. 

The department has several programs in place to help us respond to calls of people in crisis. All EPPD officers attend a 40-hour course on crisis intervention techniques. The training uses actors to portray people in mental health crisis including those experiencing Alzheimer’s, dementia, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, panic disorder, anxiety disorders, phobias and other mental illnesses. Officers are then taught how to react in order to de-escalate the situation and get the person the help they need. Our 911 dispatchers also receive de-escalation training so they can help better serve people calling 911. 

In addition, the EPPD has had a Mental Health Unit in place since 2011. The Mental Health Unit is a group of three officers and two sergeants who are specially trained to help the department support people who are experiencing a mental health crisis. Members of the team follow up on calls we receive where a person is in crisis and speak with the person involved or a family member to make sure they’re getting help.

And finally, since January 2022, the department has been fortunate to have Hennepin County Social Worker Molly Mitley with us. Molly’s position is funded jointly by the County and City. In 2023, Molly had 521 referrals which included people suffering from chemical dependency and people with diagnosed medical conditions that require help with daily life challenges.

If you or someone you know is in mental health crisis, do not hesitate to call 911 or 988 (the nationwide 24/7 suicide and crisis lifeline).