A new pilot program, 'Raleigh Cares', allows for direct access to a clinician when people are in a mental health crisis. The program was launched in November and placed three licensed mental health clinicians at the Raleigh 911 Call Center. Since its launch, these clinicians have handled about 20 calls a month. This allows for quicker access to mental health professionals without needing police intervention. The initiative is part of a larger trend in North Carolina, where one in five people live with mental health conditions and nearly 5% report serious thoughts of suicide.