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In this episode, David Covington and John Draper engage with Representative Steve Eliason, a key figure in mental health legislation and suicide prevention in Utah. They discuss Eliason's journey from CPA to state representative, his pivotal role in establishing the 988 crisis hotline, and the innovative mental health initiatives he has championed, particularly in schools.

About our guest: Rep. Steve Eliason is a US Representative for Utha. When the opportunity to run for the House of Representatives arose, Steve decided to run. Steve has passed over 100 bills during his tenure in the Legislature on topics ranging from election reform, public safety, education, public health, tax reform and has passed over two dozen bills relating to suicide prevention and improving the lives of people suffering from a mental illness. He has been consistently ranked as one of the top five most effective lawmakers in Utah. Read more at https://house.utleg.gov/rep/ELIASS/

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In this episode, David Covington and John Draper discuss the impact of crisis intervention teams (CIT) on mental health and law enforcement, featuring Major Sam Cochran, a pioneer in the CIT model. They explore the importance of community involvement and creating a mental health community where CIT-trained law enforcement officers work with community providers, leaders, and families to advocate for mental health crisis care.

About our Guest: Major Sam Cochran (ret.) is nationally known for his work developing the CIT model. He was the Coordinator of the Memphis Police Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) which started in 1988 from an outpouring of community partnerships. He retired from the Memphis Police Department after 33 years of service which include numerous assignments including Coordinator of the Memphis Hostage Negotiation Team. Major Cochran is passionately engaged in many services promoting CIT as a community program – more than just training. https://www.citinternational.org/page-18247

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David and John celebrate the new year, a new season, and chat with Preston Looper about the evolution of crisis care, and the importance of innovative technologies in mental health services. They emphasizes the significance of collaboration and technology in improving crisis response systems. The discussion also touches on the optimism surrounding the future of mobile crisis services and the potential for improved outcomes through collaboration and evidence-based practices.

About our Guest: Preston Looper is a leading expert in mobile crisis team operations with 35 years of experience in behavioral health, serving as both a clinician and executive while developing innovative crisis care platforms and technologies. Through his company Full Tilt Strategies LLC, he now provides consultation and training for various crisis response services, building upon his extensive experience leading Adapt Community Solutions and serving as Chief of Clinical Innovation at Harris Logic. https://www.linkedin.com/in/prestonlooperfulltiltfounder/

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About the Lifelines Podcast: The 988 Podcast offers an engaging format and informative content; it simplifies staying informed about crucial behavioral health topics. Discover more about 988 to enhance behavioral health care with David and John: The 988 Podcast by visiting https://behavioralhealthlink.com/bhlpodcast

About Us: Behavioral Health Link is committed to supporting behavioral health professionals. Visit us at https://behavioralhealthlink.com/ to learn more about the BHL Platform and how it supports our vision to ensure everyone in a crisis gets care when and where they need it.

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