As a counselor and art therapist in graduate school, we are consistently being told how important it is to advocate for our profession and clients. This paper discusses local ways to advocate specifically looking into crisis intervention connected with first responders.
Introduction
The Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board of Cuyahoga does a lot to advocate and help public mental health services, addiction treatment, and recovery services (ADAMHS, 2018). They have created principles, which include focusing on clients and families, ensuring timely access to care, prioritizing accountable and outcome-driven financing, locally managing systems of care, and promoting healthy, safe, and drug-free communities. Along with these basic principles ADAMHS advocates for, they also have an Advocacy Action Agenda for 2018. Two goals in this plan are to “recognize first responders’ hard work and role in mental health and addiction crises” and to “develop a Crisis Intervention Policy for the community behavioral health system detailing what Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) officers can expect from our provider network” (ADAMHS, 2018). The intent of this article is to look at the important role first responders have, specifically with dealing with mental health and addiction crises and how CIT can help with mental health advocacy.
Advocacy
Law enforcement and first responders have a crucial role and it is important those individuals know how valuable they are. First responders have distinct challenges within their careers. They are the individuals who must react to tense situations quickly and correctly and they do this constantly throughout the day. Many police officers believe their calling, to the force, was of a ‘higher power’ and they serve humankind as a protector or warrior (Chopko, 2011). Police officers are protectors and they must be informed and trained correctly to better equip them in the line of duty. Traditional training of police officers would increase escalation when dealing with people with mental illness, which is why the new intervention has been implemented that focuses on active listening, genuineness, and empathy (Chopko, 2011).
Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT) are programs, which enable law enforcement officers to effectively respond to situations where people might be experiencing psychiatric distress (Chopko, 2011). This is a more compassionate approach for first responders to engage in situations with people with mental illness. Mental health professionals train CIT officers to focus on both individual’s well-being and those experiencing psychiatric distress. According to Chopko (2011), the goals for CIT is to develop a ‘compassionate-warrior’ mindset, limit injury to both officer and client, and to focus on treatment rather than incarceration of those with mental illness. The increase in the relationship between police officers, people with mental illness, and the community is important because it provides a better way to serve the public in a more efficient and appropriate manner and advocates for those with mental illness.
Conclusion
Staying informed about advocacy efforts is important and the ADAMHS Board of Cuyahoga makes it easy for the community to stay informed and to become involved. The Advocacy Action Agenda for 2018 helps organize advocacy goal, like to “recognize first responders’ hard work and role in mental health and addiction crises” and to “develop a Crisis Intervention Policy for the community behavioral health system detailing what Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) officers can expect” (ADAMHS, 2018). The relationship between police departments, people with mental illness, advocates, and mental health providers can create an environment and community that focuses more on the effectiveness of how we care for others and maintaining the protection everyone deserves (Chopko, 2011).
References
ADAMHS (2018). Advocacy Action Agenda. Retrieved 2018, from http://adamhscc.org/en-US/advocacy-action-agenda.aspx
Chopko, B. A. (2011). Walk in balance: Training crisis intervention team police officers as compassionate warriors. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 6(4), 315–328. Retrieved from http://uc.opal-libraries.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ950529&site=ehost-live&scope=site
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