Gwinnett County has faced its fair share of headline-making incidents, particularly as the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to manifest in unexpected ways, placing mental health at the forefront of conversations. One notable crisis call occurred in our county in 2022, causing a stir throughout the area.

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What could have escalated into a dire situation was swiftly mitigated through quick thinking and the efforts of a dedicated team committed to staying ahead of the curve.

With an increasing number of calls pouring into our E-911 Center, it's crucial to highlight how we are proactively addressing them to effectively turn the situation around by answering the call.

Back in March 2022, Gwinnett Police determined 23-year-old Jaylin Backman, experienced a mental health crisis on a Greyhound bus going from Atlanta to New York City.

In addition to SWAT surrounding the bus, Gwinnett Police Behavioral Health Unit Cpl. Tracey Reed, and her partner Viewpoint Health clinician Peg Mahdavi arrived at the scene. The two prepared for this moment.

“The fact that they would allow a social worker in their world of hostage negotiation and SWAT stuff, to me, that was huge,” Mahdavi said.

Less than a year before in 2021, the duo was pinpointed to lead the County’s pilot co-responder unit, the first team and only team in Gwinnett.

“So that experience was very stressful, a lot of pressure. We tried to get as many calls as we could,” Reed said. “We literally went to every crisis call that we could get our hands on to see what the officers on the road are dealing with.”

At the time, Gwinnett Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson and the Board of Commissioners realized the pressing issue of mental health coming to the forefront and that the County needed a high-impact, compassionate approach to answering health crisis calls. The hope was to divert arrests and increase life-long outcomes.

“I can confidently say that. We have achieved so much to ensure that our community is a place where people thrive, and we are seeing that in action,” Hendrickson said.

Across the County, the pilot became so successful that five more teams were added, one for each precinct in the county.

“I think the important thing of this unit and that what we do going forward and with all the situations that we're involved in is making sure that we follow up with that young man. The jail has resources, the jail has mental health treatment, they do have doctors and providers and medications and all that kind of stuff,” Mahdavi said.

If you or a loved one are experiencing a crisis and need immediate assistance. Call 988 to speak with a mental health professional or call 911 for law enforcement assistance.