Salt Lake's Huntsman Institute enhances crisis response with law enforcement training

The Summit County Board of Health meeting on June 5, 2023, highlighted significant advancements in mental health crisis response and law enforcement training. A key discussion focused on the successful implementation of the 988 mental health crisis hotline, which now routes calls to the Huntsman Mental Health Institute in Salt Lake City. This change ensures that individuals in distress receive timely assistance from master's level clinicians.

Officials noted that there have been instances where Mobile Crisis Outreach Teams (MCOT) were dispatched from Salt Lake to Summit County to address severe cases, demonstrating the effectiveness of the new system.

Additionally, the meeting emphasized the recent completion of a 40-hour Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training program for local law enforcement. This initiative aims to equip officers with skills to deescalate situations involving individuals with behavioral health concerns. The commitment from both the Summit County Sheriff and the Park City Chief of Police to ensure widespread CIT training among law enforcement was underscored, with current training rates in neighboring areas like Tooele and Salt Lake being significantly lower.

Overall, these developments reflect a proactive approach to mental health crisis management in Summit County, aiming to enhance community safety and support for individuals in need.