Reasons to be Cheerful · Mens en maatschappij

What We’re Reading: In Baltimore, 911 Now Has More Ways to Help

This article highlights new initiatives and interesting reads from the Reasons to be Cheerful team, focusing on innovative solutions to societal problems.

Baltimore is expanding its 911 services to include mobile crisis teams that can reroute callers experiencing mental health crises to professionals. The city is using funds from opioid settlements to create a broader service that addresses various crises, aiming to divert individuals facing issues like poverty, addiction, or mental health challenges away from the criminal justice system and towards necessary resources such as housing or legal aid.

A new invention called the "Bioloon" offers a fully compostable alternative to traditional balloons, which are harmful to wildlife and take years to degrade. This innovation addresses the environmental impact of celebratory balloons, which are a significant source of plastic debris, particularly dangerous for seabirds and marine life.

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