How Suffolk County, New York, And Other Communities Respond To Mental Health Issues

Trends, such as social distancing and breakdowns in group interactions are changing the emergency response needs in Suffolk County, New York, and other communities around the world. In the new normal, there are also fewer opportunities to identify someone, who might need mental health services or be in crisis. Residents are more likely to push aside signs of anxiety and depression, until they become more severe.

Suffolk County affected by COVID-19

Suffolk County was an epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic and before that, of the opioid epidemic, both of which impact mental health and consequently, the emergency response needs of a community. In the case of COVID-19, isolation from family and children required better response, availability of services, and training for first responders.

“We are seeing people at some of their worst times,” said Joel Vetter, the Chief of Fire Rescue and Emergency Services in Suffolk County, N.Y., adding “Who responds to help the public, during times of crisis, whether suicide, overdose or crisis intervention? We must provide first responders with awareness training.”

awareness training for first responders

Joel Vetter helms the ‘umbrella’ fire and emergency agency that covers Suffolk County

Joel Vetter further said, “How can we be supportive to family, patients, and bystanders, and how do we take care of our own? We want to interact and keep people with mental illness safe, to have a positive outcome and to provide support.”

Joel Vetter helms the ‘umbrella’ fire and emergency agency that covers Suffolk County on Long Island, New York, where 1.5 million residents are served by 109 fire departments and 27 emergency medical services agencies. Suffolk County handles the 911 dispatch center for the various departments, which include volunteer, paid and hybrid departments providing fire service and EMS.

Joel Vetter, emergency services veteran

With 33 years of experience in emergency services, Vetter began as a volunteer, later worked as a paramedic and then transitioned into emergency management and to providing education for first responders. He has held his current position for four years. 

To address various mental health issues, Suffolk County Fire Rescue and Emergency Services networks with other agencies, including schools and faith-based organizations, to coordinate response and promote messaging of more than 100 available recovery and education resources.

Sharing vital information globally

“We are able to share information about programming aspects more globally, rather than in little pockets,” said Joel Vetter.

Mental health issues nationally have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, with some 41% of adults reporting an anxiety and/or depressive order, in January 2021, in comparison to just 11% in 2019, according to a National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) Early Release Program and U.S. Census Bureau Survey.

However, many people are distrustful of calling for public safety services, during a mental health crisis, as 86% of respondents in one survey say improvements are needed in how public safety services respond to a mental health crisis.

Suffolk County’s 911 call center relies on technology

In Suffolk County, the 911 call center relies on technology to help, some of it purchased with anti-terrorism funding

In Suffolk County, the 911 call center relies on technology to help, some of it purchased with anti-terrorism funding, after the anthrax scare in 2001. They log calls using national emergency dispatch codes, which provides data reflecting the impact on the communities of the opioid epidemic, for example, and more recently, by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Overall, between 2019 and 2020, the overall 911 calls volume jumped 213%, including a 5% increase in calls related to mental health, and a 13% increase in overdoses.

Emergency responders are required to train eight hours a year on mental health issues and additional voluntary sessions are offered. A crisis intervention team is made up of volunteers and mental health professionals. For first responders, facing their own mental health issues, there are peer-to-peer support programs.

Rave Smart911 app for effective communications

Suffolk County’s technology solution includes a critical communication and collaboration platform, provided by Rave Mobile Safety, enabling those tasked with protecting communities the ability to address holistically the challenges of critical communications, incident collaboration, safety and protection, and 911.

In Suffolk County, there are almost a million landlines loaded and maintained in the system. The Rave Smart911 app is integrated to provide emergency messaging for a wide variety of situations.

Secure encrypted profile and mass notification capabilities

Residents can opt-in to the system and build a securely encrypted profile

Residents can opt-in to the system and build a securely encrypted profile, providing details of a residence, images and information on the inhabitants, and any other information that would be useful in case of an emergency. If a resident calls 911, the information becomes instantly available to an operator answering the call.

Rave also provides mass notification capabilities, including seasonal, targeted messages, prevention missives, safety tips, and emergency response information. Templates built into the system help to guide response and action plans. A resident might receive a targeted text message when snow starts to fall, for example. If it snows more than 6 inches, additional emergency response and messaging are deployed.

‘Sirens at Seven’ program

“We help the general public to empower themselves by seeing what services are available in their towns, villages, counties and states,” said Joel Vetter.

To demonstrate unity, Suffolk County instituted a ‘Sirens at Seven’ program that sounded sirens throughout the entire county for three minutes to unify the community and recognize the work of first responders and healthcare professionals.