Council President Mosby announces suicide prevention legislative workgroup in Baltimore

BALTIMORE, Md. (WBFF) -- On Friday, Council President Mosby will address the mental health crisis brought on by the pandemic and announce the creation of a legislative workgroup on suicide prevention.

He also plans to honor the police officers involved in the water rescue of a mother experiencing a behavioral health crisis and her child.

Mosby will be joined by Councilmember Danielle McCray, chairwoman of the Council’s Health, Environment and Technology Committee, Dr. Cynthia Major Lewis, director of Johns Hopkins Adult Psychiatric Emergency Services, Michael Bray, researcher and medical student at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore Police Department Major Byron Conaway and Officer Joel Quillin.

Mosby will announce the creation of the Baltimore City Suicide Prevention Legislative Workgroup to investigate meaningful policy solutions to respond to residents’ urgent mental health needs only made more acute by the pandemic.

Councilmember Danielle McCray will co-chair the workgroup.

Dr. Cynthia Major Lewis and Michael Bray of Johns Hopkins Medicine will address the mental health crisis, unmet needs in underserved communities and research that shows the alarming increase in completed suicides by African Americans in Maryland. Lewis is co-chair of the workgroup.

President Mosby will honor Officers Joel Quillin, Tyler Naccari-Mueller and Jeffrey Hooper for their heroic efforts on Dec. 13 to rescue a drowning 34-year-old mother and her 6-year-old child from the water near the Hanover Street Bridge.

The woman was experiencing a behavior health crisis.

The Council President will also invite the public to join a Facebook Live event at 6 p.m. Jan. 21 to discuss the mental health crisis and how to get help.