Mental Health Co-responders and Crisis Mental Health Professionals Week

Mayor G.T. Bynum and Tulsa City Council signed a proclamation on Wednesday declaring Sept. 17-23 as Mental Health Co-responders and Crisis Mental Health Professionals Week.

The week celebrates the likes of the City of Tulsa's Community Response Team (CRT) which was created in 2017 when the city was receiving 13,000 mental health-related calls each year, many of which were repeat calls and not emergencies.

The CRT is made up of a Tulsa police officer, Tulsa Fire Department paramedic and a Family & Children's Services clinician. The team responds to 911 calls that involve someone in a mental health crisis to first assess the emergent needs and follow that response up with mental health help.

Thanks in part to a Hardest Family Foundation donation, we unveiled the new CRT vehicle on Friday which will help mental health professionals respond to calls faster.

For non-emergent, non-violent calls, citizens can call 988 or COPES at (918) 744-4800.

For more information on the City’s mental health and special services programming efforts, visit www.cityoftulsa.org/mhss.