Gun violence has a major impact on mental health and creates a ripple effect through the whole community. One incident can create years or even a lifetime worth of trauma for many different people.
Every day in Massachusetts, first responders help people in severe mental health and suicidal crises. In these moments, the right intervention can save a life.
This webinar, hosted by Samaritans on January 13, 2026, aimed to equip law enforcement officers, social workers, and other first responders with practical strategies to effectively respond to mental health emergencies, including situations involving firearms. An expert panel of frontline workers shared practical tools to help participants:
- Identify and respond effectively to mental health emergencies.
- Initiate an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) to temporarily remove firearm access from individuals at risk.
- Build stronger cross-sector partnerships between law enforcement, behavioral health, and community organizations.
Extreme Risk Protection Orders
During the program, panelists discussed Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs), and how they can be used in Massachusetts to temporarily prohibit someone from owning or purchasing firearms or ammunition to decrease their risk or hurting themselves or others:
People experiencing mental health crises—especially those who are homeless, using substances, or living in poverty—need compassionate, connected support. This webinar emphasizes person-centered, dignity-preserving approaches that bridge Massachusetts communities with care providers and create meaningful connections that extend beyond the immediate crisis to link individuals with ongoing support.
Funding for this webinar is provided by a grant received from the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office.
Resources
Information About Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO)
Helpful Resources for ERPO Petitioners and Respondents
Other Webinars on Gun Violence Prevention
Preventing Suicide Through Gun Safety
Building Safer Communities: Gun Violence & Suicide Prevention in Massachusetts
Man Up, Speak Out: Real Talk About Men’s Mental Health
Speakers
Kevan A. Barton, LICSW
Kevan A. Barton is the Executive Director of YouthConnect, where he leads a community-based mental health and advocacy program supporting police-referred youth and their families.
His work centers on strengthening pathways for youth and families by expanding equitable access to resources, and he brings his perspective as a leader of color to advancing justice and opportunity across the communities he serves.
Artie DePinho
Artie DePinho is a police officer with the Boston Police Department assigned to the Street Outreach Unit. His work focuses on assisting individuals experiencing mental illness, substance use disorder, and homelessness by connecting them with services and diverting them from the criminal justice system whenever possible.
He is a member of the Crisis Negotiation Team and supports training for the Crisis Intervention Team. Artie participates in co-response initiatives alongside behavioral health clinicians. He also works within the HUB model, collaborating with multi-agency partners to identify risk and coordinate early, targeted interventions.
Christopher Malinn
Detective Sergeant Christopher Malinn is a 29-year veteran of the Brookline Police Department and has served as a Patrol Supervisor, Accreditation Manager and is currently the Crime Scene Unit Supervisor.
He also works closely with Samaritans on our Brookline LOSS Team – a collaboration between first responders and trained suicide loss survivor volunteers to support families following a suicide.
Geneva Weymouth, LMHC
Ms. Geneva Weymouth has worked in forensic mental health for over 13 years, serving adult and juvenile populations. She currently works to support the Massachusetts Parole Board in delivering comprehensive services to those supervised on parole.
Ms. Weymouth is an experienced trainer, developing and delivering trainings on topics including trauma, dialectical behavioral therapy, youth mental health, de-escalation, crisis management and assessment, suicide prevention, and best practices for working with incarcerated individuals. She has also worked directly with local police agencies to support efforts related to the emerging need for co-response teams embedded with police for community response.
Moderator:
Kacy C. Maitland, LICSW
Kacy C. Maitland is the Chief Clinical Officer at Samaritans, a Massachusetts-based suicide prevention organization. In that role, she oversees all programming, including the 24/7 crisis helpline, youth text line, grief support services for those who have lost loved ones to suicide, and suicide prevention community education.
