LOS ANGELES — Violent crime on Metro's system has dramatically fallen compared to a peak in assaults and robberies in 2022, but some riders say they're still occasionally concerned about other passengers who appear to be battling mental health challenges.
Stacey Segarra-Bohlinger takes the B line home from work nearly every day. She said, “pretty much anytime I need to go somewhere, if I can’t walk, I take the Metro.”
And as a frequent rider, she said it’s not rare to see someone on the train who appears to be having a mental health emergency.
“It’s not like every so often, it’s every time I ride a train. I’ll see someone who’s talking to someone who’s not there,” she said. “You know, you’ll see people in like various levels of undressed.”
It’s why the Metro board is now exploring ways to potentially combat this issue, by partnering with the LA County Department of Public Health, to provide special training for Metro employees — including their 300 safety ambassadors and 200 transit security officers — so they can better respond to riders experiencing mental health challenges.
If approved, Jennifer Hallman, who oversees the Alternative Crisis Response Program for the LA County Department of Public Health, would lead the training. She said they would focus on these key points.
“What is mental illness? How do you assist in those situations, kind of what’s the best way to handle those situations when you encounter them,” Hallman said.
The Alternative Crisis Response program was created in 2021, in response to global unrest following the murder of George Floyd and calls from social rights activists to change the way first responders approach certain situations.
The Metro ambassador program was launched in connection to this effort, but as it's grown, its main focus has shifted. The team is now more focused on supporting riders with information and reporting issues to other teams.
Gilberto Morales, who has been a Metro safety ambassador for nearly two years, said above all else, his job is primarily to be the eyes and ears of the Metro system.
“Our job is to just, you know, give people a friendly smile. Tell them where to go if they’re lost. Connect them to resources. That’s mainly our job. We’re here to support,” Morales said.
He said responding to a mental health emergency is not something he signed up for. He prefers reaching out to Metro’s 24-7 homeless outreach team called HOME, who he said is better equipped to handle these situations.
Morales said for the job he’s signed up to do, he already has all the training he needs when he is put in a situation that might call for de-escalation or support with someone who is experiencing a mental health emergency.
“We have this saying, it’s called ALGAE. So, it’s approach, we listen to them, we give them assurance, and then we encourage them twice. Encourage them to seek professional help and then encourage them to seek help for themselves.”
Regardless of who gets the training, an everyday rider like Segarra-Bohlinger said she’s not just looking for a band-aid to the mental health crisis on the trains, she’s looking for a permanent solution.
“Of course it’s uncomfortable, but I’m not upset with the people experiencing crises in those moments. I’m really upset with the institutions that have failed us,” she said.