H.R. 1368, the Mental Health Justice Act, addresses violence against individuals with mental illnesses and intellectual and developmental disabilities by creating a grant program to pay for hiring, training, salary, benefits and additional expenses for mental health provider first responder units. These mental health providers would act as a mental health emergency response team, deployed when 911 is called because someone is in a mental health crisis or related situation. Mental health providers would be the first on the scene to help the individual and could help them access appropriate community resources.
