DAYTON, OH - Montgomery County Sheriff Rob Streck announces that his office is expanding partnership with local colleges by welcoming The Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine into the Montgomery County Jail.
This collaboration between the Jail, NaphCare and Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine is focused on increasing psychiatry services and comes at a time when the demand for mental health assistance has reached unprecedented levels. Per statistics reported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), an estimated 44% of individuals in jails, experience mental illness.
Through this partnership, psychiatry services from NaphCare will be increased with several fourth-year psychiatry residents working under the clinical direction of Dr. Brian Merrill. Dr. Merrill states, “This experience will broaden education by offering residents an opportunity to serve incarcerated individuals, while meeting a service need in the community. The hope is to expand this partnership so that additional Residency Training Programs or Medical Students can also join the treatment team.”
This collaboration between the Montgomery County Jail, NaphCare and The Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine reflects a proactive approach to tackling mental health challenges within the criminal justice system.
Sheriff Rob Streck states, "This partnership is not only a significant step toward increasing access to mental health services for our inmates but supports our commitment to working collaboratively with community partners on initiatives that impact the well-being of those in our custody and the community as a whole.”
Issued By: Christine Bevins, Media Director, Montgomery County Sheriff's Office