It’s 2026. Why Are Peers Not Front and Center in Our Mental Health Crisis Response System in NYC?

New York City’s mental health crisis response system still lacks peer leadership – here’s why trained peers must be front and center in 2026.
The post It’s 2026. Why Are Peers Not Front and Center in Our Mental Health Crisis Response System in NYC? appeared first on Behavioral Health News. The movement toward non-police-based responses to mental health crises in our city has taken on many shapes and sizes. For years, efforts were made to train NYPD rookies, sergeants, and captains on appropriate crisis intervention techniques. Over three days of intensive training at the police academy in Queens, thousands of officers were trained by peers (those with lived mental health experience), paid actors, and non-profit professionals in real-life scenarios set in staged subway cars and delicatessens. Police received badges of recognition and special identifiable jackets, and were deployed to active… — Read More