A Healthy Lynnfield and the Lynnfield Police Department launched the Lynnfield Police Assisted Community Outreach Team, a program aimed at assisting residents in obtaining support for their behavioral health requirements, earlier this month.

According to a press release, Lynnfield police officers undergo training in crisis intervention and mental health first aid for the program, equipping them to offer an additional level of assistance to residents.

They then collaborate with an experienced team to link individuals with services, partnering with the Lynnfield Public Health Department, A Healthy Lynnfield Substance Use Prevention Coordinator Peg Sallade, and local agencies to address issues such as domestic violence, mental health, substance use, and other related matters.

“The purpose of this new initiative is to help Lynnfield residents in times of crisis access appropriate mental health, substance use, and other community support services,” Sallade and Lynnfield Police Capt. Christopher DeCarlo jointly said in the press release. “Lynnfield, like other communities, has seen an uptick in police incidents involving individuals with serious behavioral health needs. Behavioral health needs are diverse and impact many families.”

According to the press release, the program involves an outreach officer conducting wellness checks and post-incident follow-ups, connecting individuals with various support services. The officer respects confidentiality, and seeking help is voluntary.

Collaborations with the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Essex County Outreach, and the state Department of Mental Health enable access to a part-time recovery coach and a part-time licensed mental health clinician for the program.

“Our Lynnfield Police Department also successfully completed their pledge to the International Association of Chiefs of Police ‘One Mind’ campaign, meaning they have trained and certified 100% of their officers in mental health first aid and at least 20% of their staff in crisis-intervention training,” DeCarlo said. “December is a good month to make the community aware that there are extra resources in place, as the holiday season can be both a time of joy and a time of added stress. In addition to the Police Assisted Community Outreach Team, there are other resources residents can directly access.”