Co-Responder Chelsea Musfeldt: Turning painful loss into purpose

Co-Responder Chelsea Musfeld in a police car with a police officer

This story discusses suicide, which may be distressing for some readers. If you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone. Help is available by calling Johnson County Mental Health Center’s Crisis Line at 913-268-0156.

Chelsea Musfeldt twisted the doorknob and eased her front door open, expecting the familiar comfort of home after a long day at work. But what she saw would remain etched in her memory—and her house would never feel quite like home again.

While no one was home, Musfeldt’s loved one had taken their own life.

“Losing someone by suicide is a whole different kind of grief,” Musfeldt said. “It’s something you don’t wish on anybody.”

A few weeks after her loved one’s death, Musfeldt, 31, received a large manila envelope in the mail from the Shawnee Police Department. Inside was a handwritten sympathy card from a Johnson County Mental Health Center co-responder, along with information about Suicide Awareness Survivor Support groups and other resources for coping with suicide loss.

“I was bawling because I felt so seen and cared for,” Musfeldt said. “It helped me feel validated in my grief.”

Musfeldt earned her bachelor’s in psychology from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, followed by a master’s in social work from the University of Kansas. At the time of her loved one’s death, Musfeldt was a counselor in Kansas City, Kansas, working with individuals struggling with substance use disorders.

Since college, Musfeldt had been drawn to the idea of becoming a co-responder, though she wanted to gain more clinical experience first. The manila envelope from JCMHC offered a glimpse into the care and support co-responders provide in Johnson County, sparking a desire to step into that role. A year and a half later, Musfeldt joined the team, ready to offer empathy and guidance to those facing moments of crisis.

Resource handouts for coping with grief

JCMHC co-responders are licensed mental health clinicians who partner with local law enforcement agencies on calls where a behavioral health crisis may be present to assess and de-escalate the situation. By offering behavioral health support, coresponders help prevent unnecessary arrests, reduce emergency room visits and limit future interactions with law enforcement.

“Co-responders have had a huge impact on the way we handle calls,” says Sergeant Jeff Bates with the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office. “Having a co-responder on scene allows us to focus on safety while still knowing the person is getting the support they need.”

For Musfeldt, the most challenging calls are those where she and an officer arrive in time to intervene when someone has a plan to take their own life.

“Mental health professionals want to do everything they can to prevent suicide,” Musfeldt said. “But we are not going to be able to do that 100 percent of the time.”

Co-responders follow up with individuals after each call to check in, offer support and connect them with available resources to help meet their needs. They also provide outreach to those who have experienced a traumatic event, such as a suicide loss.

Over the last two and a half years, Musfeldt has sent several handwritten sympathy cards and resources in manila envelopes to suicide loss survivors— similar to the one she received in 2021.

“I always feel a ping of sadness or grief for the person that I am writing the card to because I’ve been there,” Musfeldt says.

She looks forward to continuing to help those who have struggled with thoughts of suicide and suicide attempts, as well as suicide loss survivors. Musfeldt also hopes the number of suicide deaths continues to decline.

Data from the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment shows the county saw a 25 percent decline in suicide deaths in 2023. While these numbers are not a prediction for the future, they reflect a promising shift as Johnson County’s efforts to support mental health have grown.

“Chelsea is an outstanding coresponder,” Sgt. Bates said. “I appreciate working with her because I know she’s reliable, professional and genuinely invested in supporting both the community and law enforcement.”

Suicide Loss Support Resources