Those experiencing homelessness are especially vulnerable to the colder weather, but the holiday stretch from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day can also bring on an increase in feelings of hopelessness, sadness and loneliness. City police representatives say it often results in a rise of “431” rescue calls due to someone with suicidal thoughts.
Albuquerque Police Department (APD) officer Howard Perry said this week that it’s one reason he’s grateful that Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS) is generally available to respond to such calls.
“With ACS establishing themselves as their own entity, it’s a huge help out in the field. We utilize them on a daily basis,” he said. “[Responding] to these individuals [can] take an officer out of the field for several hours at a time, but this is now something that they can take on and offer more than what we could. It’s really important on the behavioral health side of things.”
Perry has been with APD since 2021 and is a member of its proactive response teams.
ACS officials said while the department doesn’t separate suicide ideation calls between housed and unhoused, the holiday season typically presents more challenges.
“Although suicidal ideation does not discriminate, the colder months, especially the holiday season, can be particularly challenging for individuals experiencing homelessness,” ACS spokesperson Jorge Hernandez, wrote in an email to City Desk ABQ. “The combination of colder temperatures, increased isolation and the emotional stress of the holidays can exacerbate mental health struggles.”
The subject was part of a Nob Hill – University Public Safety ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) meeting Wednesday, hosted by the program’s coordinator Darryl DeLoach. DeLoach was a crisis interaction role player for almost two decades, developing reality-based scenario training for APD and ACS personnel.
“[The training covers] a lot of the mental health and substance abuse issues — it’s a very effective tool,” he said. “I specialize in presenting mental health issues and representing these unhoused individuals and how they should be treated.”
Potential situations involve a number of scenarios, including someone who is thinking about jumping off a bridge. DeLoach has played a jumper on a bridge over a freeway in the trainings.
“Sometimes I’m someone with a mental health issue; someone who’s developmentally delayed; [or] who is suicidal and is intent on killing themselves,” he said.
The training includes deescalation and empathy skills.
“Everyone likes to say it’s the [sole] responsibility of the police to make us safe, but public safety is everybody’s responsibility,” DeLoach said. “As you notice these people in crisis, all they want is someone to look in their eyes and say, ‘Hey, I’m concerned about you; you know you need help; you know something is wrong.’”
Homeless advocate Mike Kruchoski said he considers ACS a “critical support resource” that is better trained to handle suicidal calls than law enforcement, assuming there’s not an additional factor like a weapon.
“That said, ACS is just one element of a solution,” he said. “Other elements should include crisis intervention lines and services through nonprofits, churches, educational institutions, hospitals and clinics.”
Kruchoski, who previously worked for a crisis intervention and suicide prevention helpline at the University of Utah, said he’s seen a variety of contributing factors to the feeling of hopelessness this time of year, including Albuquerque Fire Rescue extinguishing fires being used for warmth and the longer winter nights.
“I’ve seen the increased desperation that most homeless community members experience during the winter,” he said.
Kruchoski said he and his wife regularly interact with the city’s homeless population, offering food, water and hand warmers.
“People in crisis need someone there who’s going to respond to them in the right way,” DeLoach added. “Sometimes that’s an officer. Sometimes that’s not an officer.”
Editor’s note: ACS can be contacted through the city’s 311 system, by calling (505) 768-4227, or via email at acs@cabq.gov. For emergencies, call 911. The national suicide and crisis hotline can be accessed by dialing 988.