NAMI Rappahannock Participates in Mental Health Crisis Response Conversation

NAMI Rappahannock’s Executive Director Kristy Stonehill recently participated in a conversation with local law enforcement focused on mental health crisis response, family experiences, and the evolving ways communities respond to people experiencing a mental health crisis.

The discussion brought together perspectives from both a family caregiver and law enforcement, highlighting the challenges families and first responders can face during a crisis. Topics included emergency custody procedures, Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training, co-responder models, communication with law enforcement, and the importance of connecting with mental health resources before a crisis occurs.

The conversation emphasized that mental health crises are complex and that families, mental health professionals, first responders, and community organizations all have an important role to play. Participants also discussed the importance of approaching people experiencing a crisis with compassion, understanding, and dignity.

NAMI Rappahannock is proud to support conversations that build understanding around mental health and strengthen connections between individuals, families, and the systems they may encounter during a crisis.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffx85ec-SIU