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Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Mental Health Awareness & De-escalation Training for Police/Fire/EMS​

NAMI New Hampshire presents the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Program to law enforcement and first responders throughout NH. CIT highlights best practices, improves community partnerships, and helps communities develop processes to serve people affected by mental illness with respect and dignity. Through this program, first responders learn to recognize signs and symptoms of mental illness, methods to effectively de-escalate situations, and how to make appropriate referrals to community mental health services in order to ensure the safety of individuals with mental illness, the public, and first responders.

For more information on the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Program, contact NAMI New Hampshire’s Susan Allen-Samuel, CIT Manager, at sallen@NAMINH.org

NH CIT Program Feedback

“You need to know all the training you have been doing is making a difference. Incident here at my home with a mentally ill former neighbor. I am fine. NPD sent 2 officers here. They removed, carefully, the woman from my home. The male officer gently handed her a NAMI NH card and kindly suggested she could call them for help and resources. He later shared with me; he recently completed a course taught by no other than YOU"
“I wanted to reach out and extend my gratitude to you and all the volunteers of NAMI NH for facilitating the CIT training last week. I personally absorbed so much from this course and am looking forward to applying what I’ve learned throughout my career. I will be sending out an email to my coworkers (Police & Dispatch) recommending this course to all. You all are doing great things, and I can assure you that anyone having taken this course will be able to put the skills and knowledge learned to use very regularly. Thank you again! “
"Everything was incredible. Thank you for putting this instruction together and working endlessly to improve the mental health field - Everything was great."
"What I took is we can do more than just drive them to the ER. We can do more so we don't just act as a taxi - Excellent training I feel that this training would be most beneficial for young officers. Should be taught in the police academy - Great training! It is great working and learning from individuals with life experience. - This would be a good training for new officers."
"I feel that this is an excellent training. Every first responder should take this class. This training should be taught at the police academy. Having people who have experienced a mental health crisis, whether first hand or as a family member, was extremely beneficial"

Topics covered during the 40-hour CIT Trainings include:

 
    • Introduction to Verbal Techniques
    • Stages of Escalating Crisis
    • Basic De-escalation and Intervention Strategies
    • Advanced Verbal Techniques
    • Suicide Intervention
    • Rights and Laws Relating to Civil Commitment & Mental Health/Drug Courts
    • Child & Adolescent Mental Health Issues
    • Substance Use and Co-occurring Disorders
    • Disabilities
    • Alzheimer’s Disease & Other Forms of Dementia
    • Borderline Personality Disorders
    • PTS, Veterans, and Individuals Experiencing Homelessness
    • Psychopharmacology
    • Cultural Issues, Resettlement Areas, and Approaching Mental Illness
    • Self-care
Sue Allen-Samuel, NAMI NH CIT Manager, alongside a larger-than-life banner of CIT Founder Major Sam Cochran

Mental Health First Aid for CIT

 

Why Mental Health First Aid? Mental Health First Aid for Fire/EMS/Public Safety teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. This training gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem and help connect them to the appropriate care.

Mental Health First Aid for Fire/EMS focuses on the unique experiences and needs of firefighters and EMS personnel and is a valuable resource that can make a difference in their lives, their coworkers’ and families’ lives, and the communities they serve.

Mental Health First Aid for Public Safety focuses on the unique experiences and needs of public safety personnel and is a valuable resource that can make a difference in their lives, their coworkers’ and families’ lives, and the communities they serve.

Resources and Information

CIT in the News

 

Upcoming Trainings

Registration is required for all of the sessions below. Links for registration are updated as they go live.

The programs hosted by PSTC are intended for local law enforcement. If you have any questions, contact Sallen@naminh.org.

Click here for information on reimbursement to NH law enforcement agencies for CIT attendance expenses.

For more information on the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Program, contact NAMI New Hampshire’s Susan Allen-Samuel, CIT Manager, at sallen@NAMINH.org

September 2025

CIT
Audience: Law Enforcement
Location: Keene Police Department
500 Marlboro St., Keene, NH
Date: September 15-19, 2025
Time: 08:00-16:00
Registration for law enforcement: nhpstc.acadisonline.com/AcadisViewer/Login.aspx

October 2025

CIT
Audience: Law Enforcement
Location: US Army Reserve Center
187 Route 108, Somersworth, NH
Date: October 6-10, 2025
Time: 08:00-16:00
Registration for law enforcement: nhpstc.acadisonline.com/AcadisViewer/Login.aspx

November 2025

CIT
Audience: First Responders
Location: Moultonborough PD
1035 Whittier Hwy, Moultonborough, NH
Date: November 3-7, 2025
Time: 08:00-16:00
Registration for law enforcement: nhpstc.acadisonline.com/AcadisViewer/Login.aspx

Registration for fire/EMS: https://nhfa-ems.com/scheduled-course/crisis-intervention-team-cit-training-9/

All others register by email: Sallen@naminh.org

December 2025

CIT
Audience: First Responders
Location: Epping PD
37 Pleasant St., Epping, NH
Date: December 8-12, 2025
Time: 08:00-16:00
Registration for law enforcement: nhpstc.acadisonline.com/AcadisViewer/Login.aspx

February 2026

CIT
Audience: Law Enforcement
Location: Portsmouth PD
3 Junkins Ave., Portsmouth, NH
Date: February 2-6, 2026
Time: 08:00-16:00
Registration for law enforcement: nhpstc.acadisonline.com/AcadisViewer/Login.aspx

February 2026

CIT
Audience: Law Enforcement
Location: NHTI
1 Institute Drive, Concord, NH
Date: February 16-20, 2026
Time: 08:00-16:00
Registration for law enforcement: nhpstc.acadisonline.com/AcadisViewer/Login.aspx

March 2026

CIT
Audience: First Responders
Location: Antrim PD
61 Main Street, Antrim, NH
Date: March 9-13, 2026
Time: 08:00-16:00
Registration for law enforcement: nhpstc.acadisonline.com/AcadisViewer/Login.aspx
Registration for Fire/EMS: Pending

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Like mental illness and suicide, NAMI New Hampshire is nonpartisan. We support policies that help people with mental health conditions and their families, and collaborate with stakeholders on shared goals to improve the lives of individuals affected by mental illness and suicide.