FOR60370c/FOR6037c - Responding to Mental Illness

(3 units)

This course is designed for both law enforcement and mental health practitioners, and covers basic concepts of mental illness: signs and symptoms, when behaviors represent crisis, approaches to de-escalation, and resources (including via 5150 and 5250 holds) for those in crisis. Mental illness as experienced from multiple perspectives - law enforcement, mental health professionals, those with mental illness, the family of those with mental illness - will be examined. The course will also discuss the evidence supporting the effectiveness of law enforcement-mental health professional collaboration in responding to calls involving individuals with mental illness, including in relation to improving public safety, officer safety, and community relations.