The Lynn Calm Team: Transforming Crisis Response for Stronger, Healthier Communities
A new approach to mental health support and crisis care that prioritizes dignity, safety, and community well-being.
In moments of crisis, traditional law enforcement responses are not always the best solution—especially when the situation involves mental or behavioral health needs. For communities of color, accessing the right care at the right time has often been a challenge. A health-centered approach to crisis response leads to better outcomes, safer interactions, and stronger community connections.
To support this systemic shift, the City of Lynn established and is funding the Lynn Calm Team (LCT) program. The LCT is a community-based, unarmed crisis response team trained in de-escalation, trauma-informed care, and mental health intervention. Instead of relying solely on law enforcement, the Calm Team ensures that people in crisis receive the support and treatment they need in a way that respects their dignity and safety. Eliot Community Human Services is proud to partner with the City of Lynn to design, develop, and implement this innovative approach—helping ensure individuals in crisis receive the care they need while fostering community trust and well-being.
“We are very excited for the imminent launch of the Lynn Calm Team and are so grateful for the partnership we’re building with Eliot to make it a reality,” Mayor of Lynn Jared C. Nicholson recently shared. “This new team was something the community has asked for and will add to our broader public safety and public health efforts, helping us tackle mental health issues and advancing our goal to further racial justice in our community.”
Bridging the Gap Between Public Safety and Healthcare
For many years, marginalized communities have faced significant barriers to both public safety and healthcare access. When mental health crises arise, these populations are more likely to encounter emergency responses that don’t align with their needs, leading to missed opportunities for care and support.
The Calm Team addresses the underlying factors that often contribute to crisis situations, providing individuals with the right support at the right time and preventing situations from escalating unnecessarily. By working alongside emergency services, healthcare providers like Eliot, and other local organizations, the Calm Team is creating a more balanced and responsive crisis system—one that recognizes mental and behavioral health as vital parts of overall community well-being rather than matters solely for emergency enforcement.
This approach not only promotes safety and well-being but also creates a foundation for stronger relationships between communities, public safety and healthcare systems. By ensuring people have access to trained behavioral health responders, the LCT is helping to rebuild confidence in crisis response and provide meaningful solutions that support long-term stability and health.
Building Trust in Behavioral Health Services
Trust in healthcare and crisis response systems is essential to ensuring that individuals and families feel welcomed, supported, and safe when seeking help. Unfortunately, past experiences of being overlooked, misunderstood, or treated unfairly have made it difficult for communities of color to rely on traditional services.
Real trust can only be built through consistency, accessibility, and transparency. That’s why, before the Calm Team officially launches this spring, its members are working to build relationships with local organizations, healthcare providers, and residents. Their goal is to become a visible, welcoming presence in the community, so people feel safe and seen when reaching out for help.
By becoming a consistent, compassionate presence in Lynn neighborhoods, the Calm Team is working to ensure that anyone facing a mental health challenge feels respected and supported when reaching out for care.
Looking Ahead: Creating Lasting Change
The Lynn Calm Team is more than just a new program—it’s a step toward long-term improvements in public safety and healthcare services.
The dual goal of this initiative is to help law enforcement focus on urgent safety matters while providing dedicated, compassionate, and community-centered responses to mental and behavioral health needs. The Calm Team’s role is to step in where most effective, ensuring that people in need receive the right care at the right time.
For this model to succeed, community support is essential. Residents can get involved by:
- Learning about new approaches to crisis response and how they can benefit individuals and families.
- Engaging in conversations about health-based alternatives to traditional policing in crisis situations.
- Remaining patient and open-minded as the program grows and adapts to serve the community more effectively.
The Calm Team represents an opportunity to reimagine how communities support one another during difficult times, ensuring that mental and behavioral health needs are met with understanding, care, and solutions that promote long-term stability.