Police, mental health experts

I’ve trained police in verbal de-escalation of mental health crises, and I’ve trained mental health professionals (MHPs) and civilians on dealing with violent encounters. So I understand that the practice, however well-intended, of routinely dispatching psychologists and social workers to the scene of potentially lethal police-citizen encounters may be wrong for several reasons.

First is the danger. Most MHPs are not trained in law enforcement crisis intervention. We mostly work in safe, controlled environments: offices, clinics and hospitals. Second, no standard training curriculum exists for MHPs to respond to law enforcement critical incidents. What happens if an MHP is injured or killed during an incident, or police and an MHP disagree on what strategy to use and a tragedy ensues. Who’s liable?

Third, it’s unnecessary. Most officers are trained in first aid, and can learn the fundamentals of verbal de-escalation until a mentally disordered person can receive more extensive treatment. Hostage negotiators already have an impressive track record at this.

If police officers can learn CPR, administer Narcan, and use defibrillators, why can’t they be trained in basics of active listening and crisis communication?

MHPs play a crucial role as law crisis consultants and co-trainers, as they do on hostage negotiation teams. There’s great potential for broader collaboration between law enforcement and mental health, but we must figure out how to do it safely and effectively.

Laurence Miller, Ph.D., Boca Raton