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- calendar_today October 13, 2026
Increase in Mental Health Calls Follows Tragic Incident
The Marion County Coroner’s Office has identified 80-year-old Robert Jay Pottle Jr. as one of two victims in a recent double homicide on Sunday in Indianapolis. The identity of his wife, who also died in the attack, is still pending public release. According to court documents, she suffered severe facial trauma. Police say the couple was killed at their Lakeshire Lane home by their son, 38-year-old David White. Witnesses reported that White, who was not taking his prescribed medication, fatally attacked his stepfather with a shovel and a knife, and his mother was found stabbed inside the house.
The Role of Mental Health Agencies in Crisis Situations
In the aftermath, an outpouring of concern has highlighted the work of Indianapolis-based mental health agencies responding to behavioral health calls and providing support to both individuals and families in crisis. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) Mobile Crisis Assistance Team (MCAT) had previously visited the family's address, underscoring the difficulties families face when trying to navigate mental health treatment and crisis intervention.
Uptick in Behavioral Health Calls Across the City
Sgt. Lance Dardeen of the MCAT explained that their team is experiencing a significant increase in requests for assistance. “We currently have about 1,700 initial contacts and about 2,000 follow-ups that we’ve done throughout the city,” said Dardeen. MCAT responds to a wide range of issues, including serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, substance use disorder, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation.
Due to the complexity and unique nature of each mental health crisis, Dardeen noted, “It’s important that we do not define the crisis. The individual defines their own crisis.” He also emphasized the need for a collaborative approach, involving both mental health agencies and families, stating, “We really try to walk alongside that individual and their family as much as we can.”
Clinician-Led Community Response Teams See Growing Demand
The Office of Public Health and Safety (OPHS) also operates a clinician-led response team that provides city-wide, 24/7 support for non-violent behavioral health issues. According to OPHS director Andrew Merkley, the volume of calls continues to rise, with around 200 calls recorded in August alone. “We are seeing an increased number of calls going to the clinician-led community response team, as well as an increased number of calls responded to,” Merkley shared.
Merkley credited improved coordination between emergency services and the response teams for better handling of behavioral health calls. Asking the right questions during intake has allowed appropriate teams to be dispatched more effectively to those in need of mental health support.
Emphasizing Mental Health Resources and Continued Support
Both Sgt. Dardeen and Merkley stress the importance of ongoing engagement and the utilization of available resources for those facing mental health challenges. Dardeen recommends support resources and community organizations such as National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Mental Health America, and the 988 mental health helpline. “988 is another great resource. It’s free, it’s anonymous, and you can go to the 988 Indiana website for more information, but I don’t think people are using that as much as they can,” Dardeen said.
Expanding Mental Health First Aid Training and Community Involvement
To further strengthen the mental health network, OPHS offers mental health first aid training to community partners. Merkley invites interested agencies to reach out for free training to enhance the city’s collective response to mental health crises. The growing demand for mental health agencies and resources underscores the critical need for continued advocacy, accessible crisis care, and supportive engagement for individuals and families citywide.
Source: fox59.com.
