The mission of Mental Health Alert Wristbands, Inc. is to bring Law Enforcement and those with a mental illness together to break the stigma between the two. The goal is to keep those with a mental illness and Law Enforcement safe during a time of crisis.
A Message From The CEO
Wow! Four years into starting the wristbands and I am overwhelmed by the acceptance and success of them! Wristbands are now in forty-nine states, parts of Canada and Australia. Law Enforcement Officers trained in CIT (Crisis Intervention Teams) and people with mental health diagnosis like myself are wearing them.
We are hearing great stories back. For example, Dennis from Pennsylvania posted on Facebook with a picture of his wristband and the brochure “This is someone that’s a Hero to me, a survivor and continues to help those like her. Dottie Bailey you saved me and I will be forever grateful.”
Police Departments are purchasing them to give out to those who are homeless and those they meet that need them. NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) has been a great supporter. Shout out to NAMI York-Adams County, Pennsylvania who purchased 10,000! They have given them out to CIT officers, doctors and therapist offices and are getting them into the school system. Just the tip of the iceberg so to speak as they are in Alaska also!
We are now also a 501(c)3, non-profit organization with a great Board of Directors; including two Chief of Police, NAMI members and CIT trained presenters. They hail from all over the country. While the wristbands started in Georgia, we have Board Members as far away as Colorado. If you want to volunteer or possibly even sit on the board please contact us!
We have great goals. As you travel across our country and others, no matter where you go if you have your wristband on we want you safe. We want Law Enforcement to reach out and help you, no jail, no tazing and no shooting! We want Law Enforcement to step in and help you in a crisis. That’s why we are so CIT oriented. The more they learn about mental health and the wristbands the better they can help us!
I want to close by saying, I’m no hero. Law Enforcement wanted a way to help us. I simply came up with an idea of how we can help them help us. Please wear your wristband, stay safe and remember they are on our side. Get to know your Law Enforcement officers. Let’s break the stigma between us and others. Don’t ever forget there is no shame in having a mental illness!
— Dottie Bailey, CEO
If you would like to learn more about mental illnesses and where to get help,
Dottie Bailey, CEO and creator of the Mental Health Alert Wristbands, has lived with a mental illness since 1989. She is a Crisis Intervention Team (C.I.T.) Community Instructor and a Certified Peer Specialist. Dottie was inspired to create the wristbands after meeting many law enforcement officers in Crisis Intervention Team (C.I.T.) classes who requested some way to identify individuals with a mental illness. Her greatest desire is for law enforcement and people with mental illnesses to come together so lives can be saved. Dottie has a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Wayland Baptist University. She received the Consumer Advocate of the Year Award for the State of Georgia in 2013. In 2020, Mental Health Alert Wristbands became a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization.
