Town departments’ collaboration preparing for individual crisis situations paid off last week, when first responders intervened to prevent an attempted suicide, with medical follow-up.
The incident took place around 4 p.m. on Feb. 24. According to the police report, a passerby notified Billerica police of an individual threatening to jump off the Route 3 overpass on Old Billerica Road. The 911 call was transferred to Bedford dispatchers, and fire and police responded to the scene.
According to Officer Matthew Piccirillo’s report, when the officers arrived, the subject was speaking on the phone with Elizabeth Crowell, the emergency communication officer in the station, about a possible suicide attempt.
Piccirillo wrote that he saw the individual walking away from the overpass, caught up with him on the sidewalk, and “asked if he would take a seat on the guardrail.” The officer said that in their conversation, he elicited some of the reasons for his despondency.
The report said Officer Justin Brooks joined them and the subject agreed to be transported to Lahey Hospital in the Bedford ambulance. Brooks followed the transport, and Officer Mary Ann Brickey was then approached by the father of the individual. “Officer Brickey related that we will have a social worker reach out to find the help he needs,” the report said.
“We have seen a significant increase in responding to people in crisis,” commented Fire Chief David Grunes. “We have taken a four-pronged approach with Health and Human Services, Police, Fire and private partners, including the VA, Edinburg, and Eliot,” all of which provide community mental health services.
Scott Jones, the Police Department’s detective lieutenant, “has done a great job of facilitating monthly meetings and sharing information with the team when we encounter someone in crisis,” Grunes said. “We have prepared with additional training on de-escalation and collectively work very well together.”
“A very real concern has been highlighted in Burlington and Lexington in the past month of how these situations can escalate out of control rapidly,” he added.
Heidi Porter, Director of Health and Human Services, noted that Advocates Psychiatric Emergency Services “is the regional mental health crisis intervention provider serving Bedford. Residents can reach them at (800)-640-5432 to speak to an Advocates mental health crisis clinician, or they can call the Emerson Emergency Service Providers at 877-382-1609, where someone can connect with a clinician 24/7 for a behavioral or mental health crisis.”
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-8255 “is where someone can call if they are having suicidal or intrusive thoughts,” she continued. “As always for an emergency, 911 provides the most immediate response.” The dispatcher can connect to other resources.
Mike Rosenberg can be reached at [email protected], or 781-983-1763
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