Crime & Safety
3 Mental Health Nonprofits Sue Worcester Citing Discrimination When Calling 911
A 52-page lawsuit alleges that the city denies equal access to appropriate emergency services through its 911 program.
WORCESTER, MA — Three mental health nonprofit organizations have filed a lawsuit against the city for its protocol during mental health emergencies.
The nonprofits, The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Central Massachusetts, NAMI-Massachusetts, and the Parent-Professional Advocacy League announced they filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts on Monday.
The organizations allege that the City of Worcester discriminates against children, youth and adults with mental health disabilities by denying them access to appropriate emergency services through its 911 program.
Find out what's happening in Worcesterfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The 52-page lawsuit states that the city sends armed police officers to individuals experiencing mental health emergencies. Adversely, the lawsuit states that qualified health care professionals, like EMTS and paramedics, respond to physical health emergencies, like heart attacks.
The nonprofits said that, as a result of the 911 protocol, thousands of people in Worcester are denied appropriate emergency mental health care. The lawsuit alleges that this response violates the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
Find out what's happening in Worcesterfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“The current system leaves people in Worcester feeling that there is no available help for individuals experiencing mental health emergencies, said Robin Bahr Casey, President, Board of Directors of NAMI Central Mass, in a news release. "We have hope that this lawsuit will bring about positive change."
The groups are looking to require Worcester to provide equal responses to physical and mental health emergencies by sending trained and qualified mental health professionals to mental health emergencies, according to the release.
The disability organizations claimed that they reached out to City officials to request a meeting to discuss an alternative response program.
Patch reached out to the City of Worcester and the Worcester Police Department on Monday. Both of which declined to comment on the matter.
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