Mt. Juliet mental health co-responder responds to 200+ calls

MT. JULIET, Tenn. (WKRN) — It’s the first of its kind in Mt. Juliet, a mental health co-responder is working with the police.

Since February of 2023, there have been 200+ calls relating to a mental health crisis.

“So pretty much anything that falls under the mental health umbrella I would respond to,” said Dani, a Mental Health Co-Responder for MJPD.

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Since February 2023, mental health co-responder, Dani, has responded to 207 crisis calls.

“For Mt. Juliet, I’ll be honest, I didn’t realize the need was that great,” Dani said.

Those calls range from suicidal ideation to domestic violence, or persons that have intellectual disabilities. “I provide them that link, that olive branch to really open up. In addition to that I am providing them resources after the fact,” Dani said.

For Dani, she said what brought her to the Mt. Juliet Police Department was experience in her personal life. “I have three daughters that are on the autism spectrum, so it was very important to me to help officers with how they approach those on the spectrum.”

Through trainings, Dani helps educate officers on what mental health calls can look like.

“It’s extremely important for law enforcement and first responders to have a different perspective on what mental health looks like,” Dani said.

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However, she’s not only instrumental in responding to calls in the community but also supporting officers with their own mental health.

“I try to make sure I am extremely flexible, so I respond to our officers at any time if they need someone to talk to,” Dani said.

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