With numerous clashes with police and individuals with mental illness, society is calling for great accountability from law enforcement in how the mentally ill are handled during arrests. A few options include better psychological training for officers as well as crisis intervention courses. Another option is also including certain calls to be answered by trained staff in social work or other mental illness training.
Better mental crisis training is important for first responders and police. Please also review AIHCP’s Crisis Intervention Program
The article, “Here’s What Happens When Social Workers, Not Police, Respond To Mental Health Crises” by Christina Jedra looks at the importance of evolving how law enforcement deals with mental health crisis calls. She states,
“A growing number of American cities are embracing another way: sending mental health first responders instead of police. The teams are made up of unarmed crisis workers, such as social workers and health care personnel, who advocates say are better equipped than police to handle cases that don’t involve violence or crime. ”
With many unneeded deaths, a more balanced response is needed from law enforcement when dealing with mental crisis calls. Better training in Crisis Intervention and mental illness are a start but special responders may also be needed for non violent calls to prevent escalation and possible death of others.
Please also review AIHCP’s Crisis Intervention Program and see if it matches your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Crisis Intervention Counsleing.
Suicide is a serious issue. When someone shows signs or reaches out for help regarding suicidal thoughts, it is important that the first person who discovers is able to say the right things and do the right things. An individual with suicidal thoughts may have serious plans or it may be a fleeting thought but one cannot take the chance until a thorough discussion has occurred. There are certain signs and also certain things that need to be said during this conversation to ensure the safety of the person considering or speaking of suicide.
A suicidal cry for help should never be overlooked. Please also review AIHCP’s Crisis Intervention Counseling Program
The article, “How To Help Someone At Risk Of Suicide” by Rhitu Chatterjee discusses how to help individuals facing suicidal thought. She states,
“The pandemic has taken a heavy emotional toll on many people, and if you know someone struggling with despair, depression or thoughts of suicide, you may be wondering how to help.”
Suicide is a serious claim by anyone and to turn a blind eye to it is a serious error. Please also review AIHCP’s Crisis Intervention Counseling Program and see if it matches your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to those looking for a four year certification in Crisis Intervention.
Too many times when mental crisis arises, law enforcement arrives. 911 cannot differentiate between crime and mental crisis. Many times, mental crisis leads to someone killed by the police. These alarming trends are part of the police reform. Crisis teams accompanying police and even better crisis training and protocol for crisis 911 calls should be employed to avoid unnecessary death.
Better training and crisis team partnerships can make sure mental situations end in arrest and not lethal force. Please also review AIHCP’s Crisis Intervention Training
The article, “When 911 Is The Only Option For A Mental Health Care Crisis” by Lisa Ryan looks at the fear and danger associated with a call to the police for a mental emergency within African American communities. She states,
“Family members of people going through a mental health crisis are sometimes reluctant to call the police out of fear for their loved ones. Violent behavior and outbursts can be met with lethal force. Mental health advocates are hopeful though that a new co-responder program – that pairs responding Cleveland police officers with social workers — may help.”
Please also review AIHCP’s Crisis Intervention Training Program to learn more about how to help individuals in crisis. With better crisis training, police and first responders can make a difference in avoiding unneeded lethal force.
Many non violent situations can get out of hand when police arrive. Crisis situations that may need professional guidance usually are greeted first by the police instead. This can lead to escalation and in the case of today’s current environment, a call for reform. One reform that has been reviewed is utilizing crisis professionals to deal with non violent calls.
First responders need more crisis counseling training when dealing with non violent calls. Please also review AIHCP’s Crisis Intervention Counseling Program
The article, “People in behavioral crisis often see police first The first line of response for someone undergoing a mental health crisis is public safety” by Joe Gamm looks at the reality that police are usually the first response to crisis. He states,
“Missouri has become a leader in efforts to equip law enforcement agencies to respond to someone undergoing a crisis. In 2013 and 2014, then-Gov. Jay Nixon created a strategic Strengthening Mental Health Initiative to help communities identify and care for Missourians with mental illness. Efforts of the initiative began to connect Community Health Centers with local law enforcement agencies through use of mental health liaisons — mental health professionals who work directly with law enforcement to provide services when needed. The initiative also emphasized the need to provide training so the agencies could create their own regional CIT.”
Training officers for crisis intervention and helping them be able to de-escalate non violent situations is critical for future police reforms. Certain calls need different approaches. They need different equipment and different training. This can reduce deaths of citizens in behavioral crisis at the hands of the police.
Mindfulness interventions for patients who deal with mental issues or trauma can help individuals and their overall outcome and mental healing. Mindfulness Crisis Intervention help individuals find healing but also reduce the risks and costs associated with re admissions for healthcare facilities. It is important to continue to improve on mental health for everyone. Mindfulness, meditation and various professional interventions can help mental crisis.
The article, “Mindfulness Interventions May Improve Psychosis Outcomes” by Jessica Janze looks closer at how interventions can help individuals overcome mental crisis and reduce re admissions. She states,
“A new study, published in BMC Psychiatry, examines the feasibility and acceptability of a Mindfulness-Based Crisis Intervention (MBCI) for patients experiencing psychosis in the inpatient setting. Results of the parallel-group, randomized control trial (RCT), led by Pamela Jacobson from King’s College London, suggest that mindfulness-based interventions delivered during inpatient hospitalizations may reduce short-term readmissions, a key indicator of quality in mental health care.”
These studies show the usefulness of Mindful-Based Crisis Intervention. To read the entire article, please click here
Mindfulness Crisis Intervention can help individuals overcome mental crisis. Please also review our Crisis Intervention Specialist Program
Crisis and tension can cause stress. At the national level when pandemics or crisis strikes, many individuals are forced into solitude and quarantine. This move to save the many however is not always the best for the few. Those who suffer from depression, anxiety or substance abuse can face greater challenges in seclusion.
During crisis, it is important to help others not fall back into bad habits and addiction Crisis Counseling and Substance Abuse Counseling can help others cope.
Addiction has more power over individuals who cannot find their support systems. Without support, many are not strong enough yet to overcome and curb the desires and physical urges to the addiction. This addiction can be anything. It can be a substance, or even a need. Solitude forces one to wrestle with oneself and inner demons. If one adds the external crisis of a pandemic or national crisis to an internal struggle, then many without support relapse into bad habits.
Many need the distraction from the external or social issue and find peace in old unhealthy habits. Without better coping strategies, one can fall victim to these desires and needs. Many of the coping strategies were in the external world and many find a hard time finding alternative coping strategies at home alone.
This is why it is important to find coping strategies at home. Hobbies are a great place for many. Reading, work at home as well, while others look to meditation and prayer, but ultimately, many need that support. Fortunately with social media, it is easier to stay into contact. Zoom meetings, chat rooms, and online support groups are available. Furthermore, many counseling sessions now can be completed over the phone.
These social platforms help those addicted hear the outside world while trapped at home. It is critical to help individuals who face these issues and share the ray of hope they need. Many do not have hobbies, or other ways to distract their minds and social media and telecounseling may be the only way they can find the guidance and support they need.
Crisis itself is stressful enough for many people facing pandemics, but it is even more difficult for those who are already waging a war internally with themselves.
To learn more about Substance Abuse Counseling and Crisis Counseling, qualified professionals can review the programs at AIHCP. The programs are designed for working professionals and are completely online. Qualified professionals can earn a four year certification by completing the required online courses in Crisis Intervention or Substance Abuse Counseling.
In the meantime, helping those who need social support is a key element in the behavioral health sectors. Individuals whether depressed or addicted, need the help to cope and not only defeat the external crisis but also their own inner issues.
Please also review our Crisis Intervention program to help others cope during national crisis.
Crisis Intervention is a key skill set by counselors to help individuals face stress and national and personal emergencies. Crisis counselors help individuals return to a pre-crisis level. Helping individuals find sanity in chaos and able to cope is a key element in crisis. Crisis counselors help not only external issues but also internal crisis and hence crisis counseling is closely related also with substance abuse counseling.
Crisis situations can arise in one’s life at any moment. They can be the sudden death of a friend or family member. It can be a storm that devastates one’s home. One can whirl into chaos and loss and enter into crisis mode in life easily when things go terribly wrong. Some can cope in crisis while others need guidance and help. Returning a person to pre-crisis state of mind in order to deal and cope with the issue at hand is critical. Crisis Counselors help individuals find pre-crisis state of mind and guide them.
When in crisis, who do you turn to? Please also review our Crisis Intervention Specialist Program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals
The article, “Who Do You Turn To in a Crisis?” by John Otis looks at whether individuals turn to peers or elders in times of crisis. The article states,
“Who do you turn to for advice or to vent your frustrations or worries? Do you have many people you can trust or one special person? Are you the person your friends seek out when they need help?”
Crisis in families is a major issue in America. Whether through abuse or drugs, averting crisis levels that require counseling and guidance is the most ideal. How to identify pre crisis situations for children is the key.
Better social venues to deal with abuse and addiction can prevent crisis in families. Please also review our Crisis Intervention Program
The article, “What If We Could Reach Families Before the Crisis? There Would Be Fewer Kids in Foster Care” by Kris Faasse states,
“Many families don’t have extended families, friends or church communities to turn to when there is a crisis. When a crisis hits families without community support systems, their children are at a heightened risk of not getting the care they need and even potentially being removed from their homes.”
Good article on trauma and how it effects police officers. Police officers are sometimes thought of as robots in how they perform their duties but the reality is they are persons with feelings and emotions. If something traumatic occurs, they can be as easily affected as anyone else and will need counseling.
Police face many traumatic situations. Please also review our Crisis Intervention Specialist Program
The article, “How does trauma affect police officers?” by Sahalie Donaldson states,
“Post traumatic stress disorder and other mental illnesses, typically sparked by traumatic events and the accumulation of stress day after day, are not an anomaly in law enforcement. Police officers face a much higher rate of suicidal ideation than the general public. According to a research study conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, one in four police officers think about dying by suicide at some point in their life.”
The article, “Interactive Ethics”, by Christina Hamlett states
“Honesty. Integrity. Sincerity. Respect. On any given day, we’d be hard pressed to use any of those words in a conversation about national politics.”
American Institute Health Care Professionals’ insight:
Here is an interview with Dr. Schear, head of our Crisis Intervention Program and head of CCMS.
If you are interested in the Crisis Intervention Program, then please let us know. After taking a few core courses, qualified professionals are eligible for certification. Certification lasts for three years in which it needs renewed.
In the meantime, please enjoy the blog and the articles, but be sure first to review the interview with our very own Dr. Schear
