For the first time ever, Lexington is employing a mental health specialist to assist first responders with emergency situations, including mental health-related 9-1-1 calls.
The city might take as many as 3,000 mental health-related calls annually but never had someone specifically trained in mental health crisis.
“There are many mental health issues, many people in crisis,” said Mayor Linda Gorton during Tuesday’s announcement. “This grant we received to put a mental health specialist on the team is huge for our community,” she added…