Call 911, yea the police will Show up but the persons best bet is a Paramedic or EMT who can de-escalate and provide appropriate mental health support. EMS is not supposed to enter the scene until it is safe so with the weapon you still need police. Any hotline will just call police first anyway.

A knife is a deadly weapon and as much as you don't like it, calling the cops is the correct course of action. Mental health professionals are not going to respond to a call in the middle of some street for someone having a mental break.

So, I have not tried it personally but the new national 988 number rolled out this summer is supposed to route to local crisis resources for yourself or someone else. But I am not sure whether they would be willing to take this type of call or not-- and I would think that the police would get called in either way given the situation you described.

But, perhaps if you route it via 988 there would be a higher likelihood of a mental health professional responding as well?

A guy disconnected from reality with a knife wielding it around, your best bet was to call the police, he could injure himself or someone else. Mental issue or high on drugs who knows I certainly don't hence let the police deal with it.

Also, another problem with the mental health professionals is even when they are in place they would not be on call for a Holliday weekend and would just call police and fire anyway.

Sometimes even though Emergency services are not well equipped to deal with mental illness they are the only ones who are going to show up when called.

There are such programs in place that has mental health professionals arrive on scene with law enforcement. I recommend looking into them to spread awareness!

Sooooooo you gonna post them, or just tell me they exist?

No, I will not do the work for you. If you don’t want to research for yourself then that’s your prerogative. I made that post to make people aware, not hand-hold.

Great job adding nothing to the discussion. I'm sure you do a lot of that.

You have a good day now. And good luck to you.

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That’s not the problem with the mental health Professionals. That’s the problem with us as a capitalist society not prioritizing the money we need for people who help over self righteous assholes with guns

The Providence Center staffs Providence’s crisis line. Their emergency line is 401-274-7111

There’s also BH Link, but I believe people need to self-present (or be transported there): 401-414-5465

Hey, since you didn't get an answer, this kind of service varies on a local level. My local police force has social workers on staff. The nearest city to me (Boston) has a mental health crisis hotline (1-877-382-1609). In the U.S., I'd check your state's website for emergency numbers to keep on hand. You could also call the largest hospital in your area; they should be able to get you to mental health services. In a pinch, a lot of churches also have counselors on staff, who know the area and can connect you to resources. You don't have to be a believer to get assistance, a quick call the the church office might get you info.

Call 911, anybody with a weapon the police need to secure the scene. The police also have a couple of social workers from the Providence center that ride around with them in a few of the patrol cars. Anyone else you call will end up backing up when they see the knife and calling for PD always, so all you would be doing is delaying them getting help and increasing the chance of them or someone else getting hurt.

Providence has a system set up where Providence Center social workers ride with Providence Police officers in a patrol car, Providence Fire also has a mental health response car on during days. Either way you call 911, PD secures the scene, dispatch send the appropriate response.

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Thanks for all the info. The person had a knife but was basically incapacitated, couldn’t stand or speak really. I watched them for about fifteen minutes. I would never ever call the police. But I understand the sentiment. The idea that they would make the situation better in any way seems silly to me. You know, because of what an evil and morally bankrupt organization they are and have always been. Being the racist martial arm of the ruling class and all that. I do wish there was someone to call for the obviously mentally ill that wouldn’t be likely to shoot them because they are waving a knife around or otherwise destroy their already precarious existence.

Cranston and Warwick have had training with mental health professionals. I know this from experience with my son who has mental health issues and sometimes displays violent behaviors. Im sure its different with adults, however same concept. From my understanding these kinds of programs and training were making the rounds to other departments. This training is happening because most of the times its PD first on scene. Gives them the ability to access the situation, see the needs and respond appropriately.

That’s the suicide hotline that a person would call if they’re personally dealing with feeling suicidal feelings. Not sure if the scope really expands beyond that.

Back in the good Ole days a van would pull up, a bunch of big guys dressed in white would tranquilize the crazy person. Strap them into the van and off to the loony bin.

I wish folks had as much sympathy for the women, children and other people this crazy guy will inevitably hurt as they do for violent, knife wielding predators. Most mentally ill people aren’t dangerous, and erratic behavior doesn’t give someone the right to threaten others on the street.

There is a decent chance that by ignoring this situation OP caused a weaker person to be badly injured.

“Now don’t worry I’m not a stabbin’ Hobo, I’m a singin’ Hobo!”

all the people in here are dumb as hell with no compassion. honest to God best case scenario is to just walk different direction and leave them alone

>other people this crazy guy will inevitably hurt

idk looks like nobody got hurt, which is usually the case when crazy random person is ranting and holding a weapon. y'all are scared to death out here aren't you.

Of course, call the police. But let's live in the real world at the same time. This person wasn't genuinely likely to hurt anybody and you're scared of almost everyone you encounter who isn't exactly like you.

Lol

There is absolutely zero chance that the police don’t get involved in an incident like this, for obvious reasons. No health professional is going to engage a person with a knife without the police being there, for good reason

WON'T SOMEBODY THINK OF THE CHILDREN am I right?

I would say someone disconnected from reality waving a knife around warrants calling the police… are you just waiting for them to hurt someone before calling the cops?

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lmao, wants to help people with mental health problems, "won't do the work for you" on literally a post asking for exactly what you claim to know. You're full of shit.

I don’t suppose the op knows someone with a tranquilizer dart gun. Maybe the police and mental health professionals should have access to such things if they don’t already.

I can appreciate you wanting to get the police involved but this is definitely a get-the-police-involved situation.

Someone waving a knife around in clear mental distress is a huge danger to themselves and others.

had to check: “BH” = ‘Behavioral Health’ I’m pretty sure; not sure how this would differ from a ‘mental/emotional health’ resource, is the differentiation to sidestep “mental health” associated stigma?

You can care for all of these people at the same time, it isn't one or the other. De-escalation gives you a better shot at a safe outcome for all.

I’m a healthcare worker and a first responder.

No damn way I’m going near a mentally ill person waving a knife. I’ve been punched, scratched, bit, kicked, and spat on by plenty of patients who are “mentally unwell” and admitted to the hospital and the fact they “didn’t realize what they were doing” didn’t make my ribs any less bruised.

I’m sick of people expecting healthcare workers to be martyrs. I worked too hard and for too long to get killed by some fucked up dickhead who thinks I’m a space invader trying to abduct him. “Oh but you swore an oath” bro I’m not getting stabbed just because you guys don’t want to deal with the problem yourselves. Walk the other way and leave them alone. But on the off chance they really do lose it and hurt an innocent person just remember you’re complicit.

Let the cops deal with it.

It’s unfortunate and sad. And probably true. But I’ll never call them.

https://www.providenceri.gov/city-of-providence-announces-next-steps-in-creation-of-behavioral-health-crisis-response-program/

City Councilor Nirva LaFortune worked with community to create the alternative crisis response program. I believe this is what you’re looking for?

https://www.providenceri.gov/smart-policing-initiative-behavioral-health-response-team/

https://www.providenceri.gov/smart-policing-initiative-behavioral-health-response-team/

There’s a program being developed specifically to have mental health professionals respond to crisis events instead of police.

It's just as crazy to me as a guy waving a knife that one could decide to never call the cops due to a personal ideology being held in higher value than the safety of their neighbors.

I wish descalation were more common. In my experience, cops treat all problems like a nail and they are the hammer.

It’s my fear for my neighbors safety that informs this ideology.

Did you just make this entire story up so you could get a dig at the cops?

No. The cops dig themselves. But I try not to miss any opportunity preach abolition. Abolish the police.

Next time you feel the need to publicly congratulate yourself by dunking the most lukewarm take possible, just let it go. The consensus on this very liberally minded board is that your situational instincts are misguided. Your public admission of inaction will likely lead to someone else’s misfortune. When an innocent bystander gets their face slashed by this person, that’s on you.

My situational instincts are lukewarm it’s true. Dunking probably feels nice. Is it just me that takes the hit or will the other folks around also be to blame? Will we bear collective guilt for the misfortune of the slashee or the slasher?

Abolish the police. Help the unfortunate.

This is naïve view that is ultimately harmful.

How do you non coercively care for a violent predator on the street? What specifically do you mean by de-escalation?

Not what I'm saying at all.

"I wish people had as much sympathy for..."

Yeah they do though. It's not a binary switch; you care for one and not the other and never the twain shall meet. You've gone and leapt to "non-coercively care for a violent predator on the street." Nope. Contain, approach in a calm manner and attempt to calm the person to increase the chances of removing the weapon successfully and without injury. Take off the street to protect from self and others and treat. The truth is, the cops have a history of rushing in with no de-escalation training and treating a suspect with a one size fits all approach. Some police forces are doing good work to train on this stuff but many aren't. The concern this person has is valid. No one is saying "Well, I don't want this guy to be harmed, so I guess I'll let him stab all these women and children." You're way oversimplifying. I'm one of the women who's been followed and threatened by a violent stranger on the streets of Providence just for going for a walk. So often nobody cares about that stuff until they're speaking on our behalf to make an argument like this.

Edit: And OP didn't ignore the situation. They're actively responding to it.

Thanks for this.

What do you mean by treatment? The state ward? Are you at all familiar with these places?

This person is inevitably going to end up subjected to violence and locked away in prison or somewhere worse, where they will be subjected to more violence. The only question is how many people they hurt before hand.

You are not really suggesting anything. Unarmed social workers don't and won't intervene in situations like this (because they don't want to get stabbed). This is something that (unfortunately) can only be solved by coercive force. Calling the police is the least-bad of a bunch of unpleasant options.

Yeah the comment you commented on says that the cops come with mental health workers. So what do you have a problem with there? OP was asking how to get crisis intervention involved. Even if they're there with police it's better than just police. They had already called the non-emergency police number. Where's the ignoring you're complaining about?

Edit: You know what? We've walked away from my point. You can care how this person is handled and still care for who he might hurt. That's it.

I was "complaining about" the original poster who didn't call the police for "obvious reasons" and then went on to call a non-emergency line.This is about as good as praying to god for the situation to resolve: it might make you feel good, but does nothing to help anyone.

I have no problem with having mental health workers with cops, but best case scenario for someone threatening random people on the street with a knife is a high dose of sedatives in a relatively-comfortable low-security carceral institution until they age out of violence (and using up resources that could be going to education, affordable housing, and helping young families).

The sooner you get authorities involved, the better chance for this. If they hurt someone (which sounds likely) they will be put in the ACI and probably get stabbed up by higher functioning convicts who don't want to deal with their predatory bullshit.

It didn't stop there though. The poster was actively looking for a solution. And the consensus on advice was that the cops would be involved. Also, we have no idea what was up with this person. They could be on drugs or have a knife because they're suicidal. Not enough info.

Do you know who your city councilor is? Also all the mayoral candidates support some kind of alternative police crisis unit. You should reach out to your city councilor about this.

This is peak Wokeism.

just writing to say, glad you didnt call the cops. theyre corrup af in pvd

OP is right f yeah, clearly most of you are white and/or never had to truly deal with being at the mercy of cops.