Mental health should not be a not law enforcement issue.

On Nov. 30, more than 30 Lexingtonbased organizations, including law enforcement, EMS, healthcare and mental health service providers came together at the Brookland Baptist Church Banquet and Conference Center to start an effort aimed at making it where they don’t have to.

Their mission is to lessen the impact of mental health patients and substance abuse on emergency rooms and jails.

“UPLIFT Lexington County, focuses on diverting people away from reliance on emergency services and the criminal justice system and into resources that promote healing and healthy outcomes,” said Serve & Connect CEO and Founder Kassy Alia Ray.

The initiative looks to improve behavioral health through collaboration. In addition to Serve & Connect, a Columbia-based nonprofit that looks to improve relations between law enforcement and the communities they serve, the agencies participating are the Lexington Medical Center and its namesake foundation, the Lexington County Community Mental Health Center, Lexington County EMS and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department.

“We are seeing more mental health issues,” said Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon, who spoke at the meeting “It has risen during the pandemic.”

“Depression and suicide have skyrocketed during the pandemic,” Ray said.

Koon said it takes a partnership to properly address issues like mental health and drug abuse. He mentioned that the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department formed a Mobile Crisis team three years ago to reduce the time deputies were spending with non-criminal calls. Deputies are now handing off those calls to mental health personnel

UPLIFT Lexington County is being funded by a three-year, $980,000 grant from the Duke Endowment.

UPLIFT Project Manager Macey Silano, Lexington County Mental Health Center Executive Director Sarah Main, Lexington County EMS Assistant Chief Tanee Thomas-Tedford and Lexington Medical Center Director of Medical Social Services Katherine Watts also spoke at the event.

“Hope, dignity and purpose,” are three elements that can be introduced into the lives of those struggling that can change them, said Thomas-Tedford.