This article was originally published on cleveland.com on July 19, 2024.
University Hospitals and other local agencies are partnering on a $1.3 million pilot program aimed at improving emergency response for mental health-related calls in Cleveland’s eastern suburbs, the health system recently announced.
The pilot project trains dispatchers in Geauga County and the Chagrin Valley region to ask 9-1-1 callers questions to quickly determine if the call involves a mental health crisis, and if so, the best response to the situation. That response could involve medical care, a police response or other options, UH said in a news release.