‘First aid’ training teaches how to defuse mental health crises
A knife-wielding boy lunged at police Lt. Daniel Gannon. But instead of using force, Gannon calmed the boy, kept him contained and persuaded him to drop the knife.
Although he could have used his weapon, Gannon relied on another tool — the Mental Health First Aid training he received a few months earlier. He credited the training as a key factor in his ability to safely resolve this potentially violent incident.
Sadly, police encounters with people in mental health crises do not always end as well. In fact, a Washington Post study found that a quarter of those killed in officer-involved shootings were experiencing an emotional crisis.
Police officers are called to respond to emergency situations, no matter how difficult. At a time when our nation’s mental health system faces increasing pressure, police too often find themselves on the front lines dealing with people in crisis. Mental Health First Aid training can help provide options to de-escalate incidents without compromising safety.
That is why a new commitment from the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) to train 100 percent of their officers in Mental Health First Aid means that police can receive this vital training.
The “One Mind Campaign” is a bold new program that will create partnerships with law enforcement agencies, the mental health community and other stakeholders. The campaign’s central component is a commitment to train 100 percent of sworn officers and selected non-sworn staff, including dispatchers.
Mental Health First Aid for Public Safety is an eight-hour course specifically designed for public safety professionals. Just as CPR helps people assist someone having a heart attack, this course provides tools to help identify, understand and appropriately support someone experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis.
It is already making a difference in police departments around the country.
While the IACP encourages police forces nationwide to receive Mental Health First Aid training, the National Council for Behavioral Health will continue working to make Mental Health First Aid as common as CPR.