1 min read

Mental Health Calls Jump 35 Percent For Aberdeen Police

ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) — An annual report from the Aberdeen Police Department shows officers responded to 35 percent more mental health calls in 2014 compared to the previous year.

The Aberdeen American News ( ) reports the department responded to 278 mental health calls last year, up from 206 calls in 2013. Officers went to 247 mental health calls in 2012.

Brown County Mental Health Board chairman Mark Anderson acknowledges there has been a dramatic increase in the number of mental health calls in the past five years. He attributes it to increased awareness about mental health disorders.

Anderson, who is a magistrate judge, says it’s likely that reactions to social media posts are also behind the increase in calls to police.

___

Information from: Aberdeen American News,