How Cities Can Follow Oklahoma City’s Example to Address Residents’ Mental Health Needs Through Coordinated Emergency Response

• By: Jessica Hawkins Healthy Minds Policy Initiative | Oklahoma City Crisis Intervention Advisory Group
• July 29th, 2026
• alternative response teams, behavioral health services, crisis intervention, emergency response, mental health crisis response, mobile integrated healthcare, Oklahoma City, peer support, Summer 2026 Issue
• 298    0

Over the past three years, Oklahoma City has reimagined its emergency response system to better meet residents' behavioral health needs. The results are already impressive: the city's new alternative response teams have kept thousands of people out of the emergency room and drastically reduced...

Most Mental Health Crisis Calls Still Go to 911, Not 988

• By: | International Academies of Emergency Dispatch
• September 26th, 2025
• 911, 988, crisis intervention, emergency communication centers, emergency response, mental health crisis, specialized training, suicide, suicide prevention
• 3741    0

Great Lakes Region Leads with New Training for 911 Dispatchers Handling Suicidal Callers As Suicide Prevention Month continues, the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch® (IAEDTM) is reminding everyone of the continuing role of 911 Emergency Dispatchers in suicide prevention and...