MANAGING ENCOUNTERS WITH THE MENTALLY ILL
MANAGING ENCOUNTERS WITH THE MENTALLY ILL
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Course Title: Managing Encounters with the Mentally Ill
Target Audience: Active Police Officers and Community members
Length of Training: Eight Hours (8hrs.) In-service Credit
Delivery Format: Interactive/Lecture
Course Purpose: To provide basic knowledge, practical solutions & interventions for first responders to assess and manage encounters with those who are experiencing mental illness.
Each student will:
- Learn the historical overview of the decline of mental health facilities.
- Students will learn the basic skills to assist them in identifying those suffering from mental illness.
- Learn to identify the most prevalent symptoms and actions for various diagnosed mental illnesses.
- Learn how the use of illegal substances may mask actual mental illness and the dependence on illegal substances for the mentally ill to self-medicate themselves.
- Learn practical skills to manage difficult encounters with the mentally ill.
- Review the West Virginia Statutes pertaining to those suffering from mental illness to develop a better understanding of the mental health process.
- Learn what services or professional help are in the community to assist the mentally ill.