Montgomery County Mental Health Constables: Constable Philip Cash

Today on the show we speak to Constable Philip Cash about how the
Montgomery County mental health constables are serving their
community through a dedicated program designed to get mental
health consumers the help they need.  We hear about
Constable Cash’s journey in law enforcement and what led to his
passion for creating a program to address mental health in our
community. Constable Cash speaks about the typical process the
mental health constables follow to assist mental health consumers
in moments of crisis. We also address how Montgomery County is
tackling the drug crisis, the need for more mental health
infrastructure in Texas, and the fundamental role of faith and
family in assisting in the recovery of loved ones with mental
illnesses.





Key Points From This Episode:


Constable Cash’s career in law enforcement and how he got
involved in mental health.

The role of the Montgomery County mental health constables
and how they are helping those in crisis.

The effects of COVID on the mental health of Americans.

How the crisis intervention team has downgraded police
uniforms to be less intimidating.

The best time to call a mental health constable if a loved
one is struggling.

How the mental health constables are trained to handle a
range of situations.

When a person should call 911 versus the crisis intervention
team.

The standard operating procedure around juvenile struggles
and how the constables help.

Similarities in the behavior between mental health consumers
and drug users.

The effects of dementia on older folks and whether the
constables can provide assistance.

How the constables deal with cases: the process of evaluation
and transportation to a facility.

The appreciation and feedback the constables get from the
patients and community.

Effects of natural disasters on mental health consumers and
the influx of calls the constables get.

The lack of funding for mental health infrastructure even
though progress is being made.

Issuing mental health warrants and what this side of the
process looks like.

The rise of drug use and measures being taken in Montgomery
County to deal with this.

Details in the drug crisis: counterfeit pills and opioid use
leading to street drug use.

A message of hope from Constable Cash about the role of faith
and family.

How to get hold of the Montgomery County mental health
constables.






Tweetables:


“Our primary mission is to help those in crisis.” — Constable
Philip Cash [0:03:54]


“That’s an issue we have had in the past where a person is
disobeying a police officer and they end up in jail where it
could have been something handled a little different where they
ended up in a mental health facility.” — Constable Philip Cash
[0:17:36]


“Two or three times since I have been constable, these people
have come to and hugged the officers and thanked them for saving
their lives.” — Constable Philip Cash [0:24:32]


“There’s a lot of very professional people in our community that
care about the mental health of our citizens and I am proud to be
a part of that.” — Constable Philip Cash [0:30:05]





Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:


Constable Philip Cash on LinkedIn


Tri-County Behavioral Healthcare


American Rescue Plan


HIDTA