Local law enforcement learns to de-escalate mental health crises
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A woman is pacing outside a supermarket, screaming obscenities. A man is threatening suicide. The police are called. What will they do?
Using the tools law enforcement officers are learning in new behavioral health crisis training, they will work to de-escalate the situation by speaking gently and simply, treating the person in crisis with respect, moving slowly, presenting a sympathetic and understanding demeanor, reassuring the person and directing them to appropriate resources.
Houghton Police Lieutenant Nick Roberts described the state-funded Behavioral Health Emergency Partnership training at a public program at the Portage Lake District Library Wednesday evening, sponsored by the Mental Health Support Group-Keweenaw Area. This week, two police officers and two social workers received two days of training, preparing them to train others beginning in January.
"I use this training every day," Roberts said. "It's one of the best tools in my toolbelt."
The training has a high success rate in all kinds of situations, he added.
Using simple words is important. "If I can't spell it, I don't say it," Roberts said. A calm demeanor is also vital. "If I go into a situation agitated, nothing good is going to happen," he explained.
"My job is to de-escalate the situation," Roberts said. "I want the person to understand, 'I'm here to help you and support you.'"
It only takes one good intervention to see that this actually works, he added. "You really get this training when you use it in a crisis situation and it works. There's no better feeling in the world."
Partnerships are a vital part of the process. "We partner with all kinds of agencies--hospitals, Copper Country Mental Health, social workers, schools--to get the person in crisis to the resources they need."
Roberts also talked about stigma. We know there is stigma surrounding mental health issues, he said. "There is stigma involving law enforcement too. A lot of people think we don't get this kind of training. When I came out of the Police Academy 29 years ago, we had no training in handling behavioral health crisis situations. Now we do."