Yesterday, city leaders announced a new “4th Option” for 911 callers in Memphis (other than police, fire, and EMS), which provides mental health support for those in need.
This “4th Option” can provide assistance for everything from substance abuse, an emotional crisis, or just needing someone to talk to, as callers will be connected to a trained dispatcher or licensed social worker.
MPD Chief C.J. Davis said, “It does two things — it makes sure the right people are sent with the right support. Whether it’s MPD and other types of mental health support and it also cuts down on response times when you make sure everyone is there at the same time.”
According to MPD, of the one million 911 calls they receive annually, 25,000 of those have been related to mental health.
While the “4th Option” has been available since July, city leaders are trying to spread the word in hopes that more people will take advantage of this new service.
