Law Enforcement's Response to Mental Health Crisis Intervention
Law enforcement agencies have established Emotionally Disturbed Persons Response Teams (EDPRT) and Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT) to address mental health crises in the community. These specially trained officers handle situations involving emotionally disturbed individuals, suicidal persons, psychiatric patients, and more. Mental health training for law enforcement focuses on awareness, communication skills, recognizing signs and symptoms, and reducing stigmas associated with mental illness. The training covers indicators of emotional disturbance, mental illness signs, communication skills, and specific mental health issues across different age groups. EDPRT/CIT training emphasizes crisis response, suicide intervention, follow-ups, and ultimately aims to save lives through positive interactions and reducing the need for physical force.
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Emotionally Disturbed Persons Response Teams/Crisis Intervention Teams: A Law Enforcement Response to Mental Health Crisis Intervention Presented by: Sgt. Eric Weaver (Ret.)
Terminology EDPRT: Emotionally Disturbed Persons Response Team CIT: Crisis Intervention Team 2
EDPRT Definition A group of officers specially trained, on a voluntary basis, to deal with emotionally disturbed individuals in a variety of situations in the community. These situations may include suicidal persons, persons exhibiting irrational behavior, handling psychiatric patients, the homeless, addressing various mental health concerns and/or referrals, and any other situations that deal specifically with the needs of the mental health community and emotionally disturbed persons. 3
Why Mental Health Training for Law Enforcement? Recognizing the need for: -Awareness -Communications skills -Knowledge of Signs & Symptoms -Decriminalization 4
Why Mental Health Training for Law Enforcement? Recognizing the need for: -Awareness -Communications skills -Knowledge of Signs & Symptoms -Decriminalization -Overcoming the Stigmas of Mental Illness 5
Training includes Indicators of Emotional Disturbance Mental Illness-Signs and Symptoms Communication Skills Stigmas surrounding Mental Illness Suicide Role Plays Mental Hygiene Law 6
Training includes Specific Mental Illnesses Juvenile Mental Health Issues Elderly Mental Health Issues Police Stress/Mental Health Medications Community Resources Family Members and Personal Stories 7
What else is EDPRT/CIT about? Training Responding to those in crisis Suicide intervention Follow-ups Saving lives 8
Successes Although it would be impossible to accurately document, the training and positive interaction between EDPRT members and the thousands of individuals encountered has undoubtedly: Saved lives Reduced the need for physical force-resulting in great reductions in injury rates to officers and individuals Has reduced the amount of police calls for service Diverted individuals from incarceration Has created an atmosphere of cooperation, coordination, and communication between the police agencies and the mental health community. 9
It is also about Community Involvement& Empowerment: Planning & Scheduling Involvement in Training Cooperation Coordination Communication 10
It is also about Partnerships with: Mental Health Providers Consumers Community Programs/Services (i.e. NAMI) 11
It is also about: Leadership Investments/Ownerships Understanding/Patience Compassion Knowledge Hope 12
Contact Sgt. Eric Weaver (Ret.) Executive Director Overcoming The Darkness P.O. Box 327 Penfield, NY 14526 eric@overcomingthedarkness.com www.overcomingthedarkness.com 585-410-5544 13
