The "Sense of the Council on Supporting Humane and Trauma-Informed Responses to Behavioral Health Crises Resolution of 2025" aims to enhance the District of Columbia's response to behavioral health crises by prioritizing care over criminalization. Introduced by Councilmember Christina Henderson and supported by several other council members, the resolution emphasizes the need for a coordinated approach that treats behavioral health emergencies with the same urgency as physical health emergencies. It highlights the inadequacies of the current system, where many individuals in crisis resort to calling 911, leading to police involvement rather than a response from trained behavioral health professionals. The resolution calls for improvements in crisis call operations, mobile crisis team resources, and the establishment of more community-based crisis stabilization options.

To address these issues, the resolution urges the Mayor to implement specific actions, including ensuring timely responses to crisis calls, enhancing training for operators to better identify behavioral health emergencies, and expanding the capacity of mobile crisis teams. It also advocates for the development of community-based crisis beds and respite centers to provide dignified care alternatives to hospitalization. The Council emphasizes the importance of allowing individuals with behavioral health disabilities to have a say in their crisis care and aims to reduce unnecessary police involvement, thereby improving outcomes for those in need of support. The resolution reflects a commitment to ensuring that behavioral health crises are met with appropriate, trauma-informed care.