Chapel Hill celebrates 50 years of successful police-crisis counselor partnership

A unique partnership between police and crisis counselors in Chapel Hill is celebrating 50 years this month.

Chapel Hill Police at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s School of Social Work developed the first Crisis Unit in the state in 1973 under the direction of former Mayor Howard Lee.

“Just to watch the growth and the connections and the relationships build within the community has been remarkable,” said Sarah Belcher, who has worked on the Crisis Unit for more than 10 years.

The 24/7 co-response team works alongside Chapel Hill police.

"We respond to mental health and psychiatric emergencies, parent child conflicts, neighbor disputes, I mean you name it,” Belcher said.

Retired Chapel Hill Fire Chief Matthew Sullivan has worked with the program.

"At the time, it was really unique in North Carolina,” Sullivan said. “It was the first that we know of in the state to actually employ human service/social work in the police department."

Since January, the team has responded to more than 2,000 calls.

Belcher said about 45% of their cases involve health and wellbeing issues like mental health and homelessness.

Chapel Hill Police Chief Celisa Lehew said the partnership is invaluable for officers.

“Police officers aren't trained to, they don't have that expertise when it comes to mental health or providing that warm hand off to additional or long-term resources,” Lehew said.

Lehew is also excited about what's to come. More positions are being added and a new pilot program is launching in January.

“We will have a crisis clinician right in the 911 Center, so that will help triage some of those calls," Lehew said.

It's tough work and often emotional, Belcher said.

"We're interacting with folks at some of the rawest moments in their life,” Belcher said.

However, Belcher and her team say it's a privilege to help folks in need.

It's just about caring about people and putting people first in the moment,” Belcher said.

The 50th anniversary celebration and ceremony for the Crisis Unit is Nov. 16 at the Chapel Hill Public Library. It’s open to the public, but space is limited.

Get Help: County-by-county guide to mental health and crisis resources in NC

In the wake of tragic and traumatic events, feelings like stress, anxiety, grief and depression are natural. Here is a list of crisis counseling and county-by-county resources in North Carolina, as well as nationally. These resources are available for you -- just call.