Behavioral Health Unit
If you or a loved one are experiencing a crisis and need immediate assistance
Call 9-8-8 to speak with a mental health professional,or call 9-1-1 for law enforcement assistance.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Behavioral Health Unit is to reduce the potential for violence during police contacts involving persons experiencing mental illness while assessing and providing resources for citizens. The Behavioral Health Unit further seeks to foster a system of support with the citizen's families and their community. The Behavioral Health Unit achieves this through a Police-Mental Health Collaboration.
About the Behavioral Health Unit
The Behavioral Health Unit is a highly trained team of officers and mental health clinicians. They specialize in de-escalation techniques, mental health awareness, suicide awareness, and many other subjects related to mental health. When calling 9-1-1, you can request the Behavioral Health Unit to respond if you know the person you are calling about needs mental health assistance or is in an active mental health crisis.
When available, the BHU will respond as a co– responder team. These teams consist of a police officer who is trained in mental health and crisis de-escalation, and a licensed mental health clinician who works in a partnership with View Point Health. This team provides on-scene support, resources, screening, and assessments.
The Behavioral Health Unit is a Police-Mental Health Collaboration between Gwinnett County Police Department and View Point Health. A Police-Mental Health Collaboration is a law enforcement-based co-responder program that utilizes teams consisting of a police officer and a licensed mental health professional to provide on scene intervention for individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis. PMHC programs are supported by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance. Behavioral Health Unit teams are specially trained in crisis response and intervention. They are available to respond to in-progress crisis calls, conduct follow-up visits, and help consumers navigate the mental and behavioral health systems. BHU teams also meet with community groups, conduct training, and provide educational information to the public about co-responder programs and how they fit in public service response to behavioral health.
