WLRN Public Media | By Bill DiPaolo | Stet News

Five local law enforcement agencies — West Palm Beach, Riviera Beach, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and Palm Beach Gardens — have joined since August with the county Health Care District to provide an alternative to jail for people with mental illness.

Called the Crisis Outreach and Support Team, or COAST, police and health care experts work together to respond to emergency calls, officials said at a news conference last week, during Mental Health Awareness Month, at the West Palm Beach police station.

When police officers arrive at a mental health call, the Baker Act allows them to transport the patient to a mental health facility for a 72-hour hold if they are determined to be a threat to themselves or others.

Too often, health officials say, patients who do not meet the threshold are released or jailed without proper care. They go untreated. The cycle repeats. And repeats.

This story was originally produced by WLRN, South Florida’s only public radio station at 91.3 FM, as part of a content sharing partnership with MIA Media Group. Read more at WLRN.org