Responding to People Experiencing a Mental Health Crisis

When responding to calls for service involving persons with mental health issues, officers can face some of the most challenging and difficult situations. Officers are often required to make decisions in a matter of seconds regarding issues that may have been building for days, weeks or even years. To make sound decisions in these circumstances, it is crucial to recognize the signs and symptoms that could indicate a person is suffering from mental health issues or developmental disorders.

To successfully interact with those with mental illness, physical or developmental disorders, it’s important to educate yourself in the behaviors, characteristics and traits that uncover these issues.

This course gives officers an introduction to some common mental illnesses as well as social and developmental disorders including autism.