Addressing mental health is crucial for public safety, yet there is no set guide for communicating with at-risk residents. This session will explain how to communicate with people who may have behavioral health issues. Attendees will learn strategies employed in Kern County, CA, including how to work with callers who are under duress, how advance information improves first-responder safety, and how 9-1-1 can facilitate better relationships between vulnerable residents and those that help them.