Mental health first responders detail needs for their services in the city 

Waltham’s city councilors began work this week to review and spotlight the city’s mental health programs by hearing from emergency clinicians working with the Police Department.

The City Council’s Economic & Community Development Committee at its Monday night meeting heard testimony from clinicians Emily Marini and Julie Flateau. The Police Department hired them last October as a part of a jail diversion program started by the Edinburg Center, a Bedford-based nonprofit mental health organization created to improve first responder services for individuals struggling with mental health and addiction.

Marini and Flateau, who respond with police officers to calls involving mental health or substance use crises, reported to the committee on the current scope of the program. 

Flateau said the number of calls that require their response has been growing. The police received a total of 700 calls in 2024 but responded to more than 300 calls a quarter in 2025. 

The pair explained that they received calls from all around the city, and that the top reason for their calls related to mental health crises that were not related to substance abuse.

They also testified that the city could reach more residents in need if other city departments work with mental health professionals to connect people to available resources. “I think every organization should probably have a social worker or a clinician,” Marini said.

To help meet the need, the Police Department is currently looking to hire a third clinician, so the department would have an on-call clinician every day of the week between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m.