"Since
law enforcement agencies began partnering with citizens through community
policing, we've seen significant drops in crime rates."
-
John Ashcroft
This 16-hour, two-day session focuses on practical solutions and interventions for community police officers to assess and manage encounters with individuals who are experiencing mental illness. Experimental and interactive activities designed to promote proactive management of situations in which persons who are mentally ill require assistance, intervention or diversion will be offered. Course content is presented without psychological, medical, or diagnostic terminology, and is intended to provide straightforward information to demystify interactions with the mentally ill.
Participants will be able to:
- Describe and demonstrate ability to utilize practical interventions to manage difficult encounters with the mentally ill; including suicidality and the Baker Act.
- Describe methods to assess danger and/or potential for violence in persons with mental illness.
- Describe typical behaviors and statements of persons who are mentally ill and or using, abusing, or who are dependent on illicit drugs and/or alcohol.
- Describe the continuum of community resources available to persons with mental illness.
Course Topics:
- Myths about mental illness
- Psychotropic medications
- Behaviors and statements associated with mental illness and substance abuse/dependence
- Violence and danger associated with mental illness
- Practical inventions to assist and manage the mentally ill
- Suicidality
- The Baker Act
- Community resources for the mentally ill and persons with substance
related disorders.
Manuals and Presentation for Download:
*You will need Adobe Acrobat to open the manuals.