Mahoning County Sheriff Jerry Greene says the Mahoning County jail is the largest mental health facility in the county.
“When we have 500 inmates, we know that one third of those inmates are on some type of psychotropic meds,” he said.
“We started realizing: Where are these people going to go when they get released? Where is their next meal going to come from? Who is going to give them their meds? These are all things that weren’t thought about before.”
Interventions through community partnerships can stop the endless cycle, and find more appropriate places to treat and house them than jail, Greene said.
People in the throes of a mental health crisis often intersect with the criminal justice system, and while efforts are being made to increase the availability of mental health services, observers say existing systems are still lacking.
When people with mental health issues become involved with the justice system, it often can be during an episode involving crisis behavior. Or, the person has a repetitive history of similar behavior.
Sometimes the behavior itself is not criminal, but causes alarm in family members or bystanders who have few options but to call for police or an ambulance; other times, the behavior leads to criminal acts.
The advent of special dockets for those with mental illness is one of several recent developments that can help to increase the availability of mental health se
People in the throes of a mental health crisis often intersect with the criminal justice system, and while efforts are being made to increase the availability o
Feb 23, 2021
MENTAL WELLNESS ART FUNDRAISER: Mental Health is Vital has partnered with The Ryan Giambattista HELMS Foundation of the Mahoning Valley for its annual art fundraiser.
This year’s event will be a hybrid event with a public viewing followed by an online art auction and raffle. The public art viewing will be 5 to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Alta’s newest location, the Mahoning Valley Campus of Care, 1960 E. County Line Road, Building 6 (the former Youngstown Developmental Center), Youngstown. Visitors are asked to wear a mask and have their temperatures taken at the door.
The virtual auction for the art and sale of tickets for the baskets will begin at 5 p.m. Friday and close 9 p.m. March 7. Links to the online auction will be made available online and across all social media closer to the auction.