Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Mental Health Awareness & De-escalation Training for Police/Fire/EMS
NAMI New Hampshire is presenting Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Training to law enforcement and first responders in NH as part of a 3-year grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
The 40-hour CIT program originated in 1988 in Memphis, TN after an officer-involved shooting of an individual with mental illness. CIT highlights best practices, improves community partnerships, and helps communities develop processes to serve people affected by mental illness with respect and dignity.
Topics covered during the 40-hour trainings include:
- Rights and Civil Commitment Laws, Mental Health/Drug Courts
- Disabilities
- Suicide Intervention
- Alzheimer’s Disease & Other Forms of Dementia
- Borderline Personality Disorders
- PTS, Veterans, and Individuals Experiencing Homelessness
- Psychopharmacology
- Child & Adolescent Mental Health Issues
- Substance Use and Co-occurring Disorders
- Cultural Issues, Resettlement Areas, and Approaching Mental Illness
- Introduction to Verbal Techniques
- Stages of Escalating Crisis
- Basic De-escalation and Intervention Strategies
- Advanced Verbal Techniques
In addition to in-classroom training, participants also visit community locations like New Hampshire Hospital and community mental health centers. NAMI New Hampshire is conducting several trainings over the 3-year project period.
Through the Crisis Intervention Training for New Hampshire’s First Responders Project, NAMI New Hampshire and its partners will train 435 NH State Police (NHSP) and Fire/Emergency Medical Services personnel (Fire/EMS) to recognize signs and symptoms of mental illness, provide them with the skills to effectively de-escalate situations and make appropriate referrals to community mental health services in order to ensure the safety of individuals with mental illness, First Responders and the general public.
Resources
Healthcare Personnel and First Responders: How to Cope with Stress and Build Resilience During the COVID-19 Pandemic – CDC.gov
How the Pandemic Is Increasing Stress and Anxiety for Emergency Responders – McLean Hospital
Protecting the mental health of first responders during a pandemic – Amy Morgan, MSC, CFRC(D), TECC-LEO
Upcoming Trainings
More trainings coming soon.
For more information on Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Training, contact NAMI New Hampshire’s Susan Allen-Samuel, CIT Coordinator at sallen@NAMINH.org.
This training is made possible through a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
