The University of Texas Police Department will partner with mental health professionals this fall in an effort to reduce repeat encounters with people in crisis, improve support services and emphasize de-escalation, the university announced Tuesday.
When university gets a mental health call, a trained counselor will be dispatched alongside a plainclothes police officer to respond.
Cities in the U.S. have started similar programs. Earlier this year, the City of Austin began including mental health services as an option for 911 callers.
