Virtual Crisis Care in Wyoming Receives Generous $2.4 Million Donation from Helmsley Charitable Trust
Virtual Crisis Care Program Launched in Wyoming to Aid Mental Health Crisis Responses
The Wyoming Association of Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police (WASCOP) has received a significant boost in its efforts to respond effectively to mental health crises, thanks to a generous donation from the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.
On Tuesday, Governor Mark Gordon announced a major gift of nearly $2.4 million at a media conference in Cheyenne. This donation will be used to implement the Virtual Crisis Care program, a telehealth initiative designed to equip Wyoming law enforcement officers with the tools they need to support individuals experiencing a mental health crisis.
The program partners with Avel eCare, a telehealth company that provides clinicians to handle crisis calls. This partnership ensures that individuals receive professional mental health support at any time of the day or night.
With the funds, WASCOP will provide Wyoming law enforcement officers with tablets connected to cell service. These tablets will enable officers to connect with remote counselors in real-time, seek advice on how to approach individuals in crisis, or directly connect the person with a mental health counselor. The program enables police and sheriff departments to offer 24/7 virtual crisis care calls, ensuring that officers can access professional mental health advice at any time.
The Virtual Crisis Care program is being implemented in several departments across Wyoming, with multiple sheriff’s offices and police departments either using the service or in training to join. The grant supports up to 70% of Wyoming’s law enforcement departments over a two-year period, making it a significant resource for responding to mental health emergencies.
Examples of mental health crises that Virtual Crisis Care addresses include suicidal ideation, self-harm, and depression. The program allows law enforcement officers to call on trained experts for de-escalation, assessment, and stabilization of individuals in a mental health crisis.
WASCOP Executive Director Allen Thompson explained further how the Virtual Crisis Care program works, stating that it empowers Wyoming law enforcement by providing a mobile and immediate connection to the next level of care. The program is modelled after similar Helmsley-funded efforts in South Dakota and Nevada.
The Virtual Crisis Care program aims to assist Wyoming residents experiencing a mental health crisis, and it is expected to make a significant difference in the state's rural and frontier landscape. Thompson thanked the Helmsley Charitable Trust for the generous grant, expressing gratitude for their commitment to improving mental health care in Wyoming.
The Virtual Crisis Care program, funded by the generous donation from the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, is a telehealth initiative that partners with Avel eCare to provide Wyoming's law enforcement officers with immediate access to mental health therapies and treatments, aiming to improve health-and-wellness outcomes for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. This program, currently being implemented in several departments across Wyoming, also offers science-based strategies for de-escalation, assessment, and stabilization of individuals in a mental health emergency.
