Salisbury Police Department highlights mental health awareness
SALISBURY, Md. — In honor of Mental Illness Awareness Week, the Salisbury Police Department is spotlighting its co-responder program, which on a need base pairs, officers with their mental health professional to help best assess the situation.
Morgan Flanagan, a co-responder with the department, said she works alongside officers to assist with mental health-related calls. “I go out with our officers to assess the situation and determine what’s needed,” Flanagan said. “Can we solve it right then and there, or is there a need for something more?”
Police Chief David Meienschein emphasized the importance of the co-responder role in meeting the department’s goal of improving community mental health. “Our aim is to reduce repeat calls from the same individuals and connect them with the services they need,” Meienschein said. “This helps improve their quality of life.”
Flanagan noted that her role allows people to see beyond the uniform. “A lot of people assume they’re in trouble when they see police,” she said. “When they see me, someone connected to the police but not in full uniform, it gives them comfort knowing their concerns are being taken seriously.”
Each month, the department handles about 20 community and police referrals and responds to around 35 emergency petitions, which involve individuals being evaluated at local hospitals.
Flanagan stressed the importance of breaking the stigma surrounding mental health. “Everyone goes through it,” she said. “The more we bring awareness to mental health, the less stigma there will be. People often hesitate to speak up because they’re afraid of judgment.”
The co-responder program, which has been in place for about a year but is two years in the making, aims to help individuals get back on their feet and fully participate in their communities. “We want people to be at home, functioning well, and happy,” Flanagan said. “This program is just the beginning of helping them get there.”
This program has been available for about a year through the Salisbury Police department.
