Crisis Intervention Refresher Course

Crisis Intervention Refresher Course
Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (TCLEOSE) Course # 3843

REGISTRATION Ensure you sign TCLEOSE Report of Training Roster
Complete the BCCO PCT#4 Course Registration form

Unit Goal 1.0 To develop an advanced personal appraisal of crisis identification

1.1 CRISIS Formulate a working definition of a “crisis” SUDDEN
PERSONAL UNEXPECTED OVERWHELMING Class discussion: definition of the term “CRISIS”.

What is a Crisis? Personal identification with crisis
“A temporary state of upset and disorganization, characterized by an inability to cope with a particular situation using customary methods of problem solving, and by the potential for a radically positive or negative outcome.” Webster

Personal identification with crisis
English word derived from the Greek “Krinein” Chinese term for crisis “Weiji”

Critical incidents are:
Sudden, unexpected events that may overwhelm an individual’s ability to respond resiliently. Extreme critical incidents may result in traumatic stressors, a personal crisis, or even Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

When does a crisis occur?
“A crisis occurs when a stressful life event overwhelms a person’s ability to cope effectively in the face of a perceived challenge or threat.” (Flannery)

What is the Crisis Onset Point?
“When a person faces an obstacle to important life-long goals that is, for a time, insurmountable through the utilization of customary methods of problem solving, a period of disorganization ensues, a period of upset, during which many abortive attempts at solutions are made.” (Caplan)

1.2 Identify behaviors that detect an individual in crisis Physical
Emotional Psychological

Potential to “COMPOUND” Multiply the effect
How do these crisis behaviors differ if there is a pre-existing mental health issue? Potential to “COMPOUND” Multiply the effect

Survival Arc

Initial Phase-Decision or incident occurs

Deliberation Phase-Responding to Crisis

Decisive Phase-Feeling Assigned

Survival Arc Summary Decisive Phase Deliberation Phase Initial Phase
Initial Phase-Decision or incident occurs Deliberation Phase-Responding to Crisis Decisive Phase-Feeling Assigned Initial Phase Deliberation Phase Decisive Phase

1.3 Articulate the technique of Crisis Intervention Crisis Intervention techniques assist individuals in returning to a level of functioning that enables them to gain some sense of behavioral control.

The sooner the better Intervention by first responders tends to greatly reduce/prevent many crisis symptoms A front-line officer has one critical qualification that a qualified practitioner does not…they are there. (Hogan)

Communication DO DO NOT

Goals for Intervention
Stabilization, an interruption in crisis escalation behavior, identification of any risk of harm to themselves and others Reduction in the acute signs of distress

Restore independent functioning or, if needed, referral to higher level of care for assessment/evaluation

Feel out of control… Provide with sense of security and safety by:
Allowing them to ventilate Validate Give honest predictions Prepare for situational outcome

Scenario/Role-Play Individual is lost Individual is out of medications
Individual is afraid of going to jail Individual is hurt or ill

1.4 Implement the Crisis Intervention Model through a scenario activity

A successful crisis intervention model is comprehensive enough to be implemented by those with little training and flexible enough to be used by those that are trained. As law enforcement officers crisis intervention techniques are used to alleviate immediate symptoms only, followed by a referral to qualified help as appropriate.

Listening Skills Primary tool is LISTENING Ventilation - Defuse
Do not take risks

Listening Skills Listening is the primary tool used by the crisis interviewer. Encourage the individual to talk to you and share their present feelings. A person who feels understood and cared about will feel emotionally safe and be more able to deal with a crisis situation.

Listening should be non-judgmental; judging makes open communication almost impossible by making the individual feel defensive.

Ventilation Do not jump to situational solutions without allowing time for ventilation. Ventilation helps in the reduction of crisis response behaviors.

Verbalizing crisis feelings through ventilation to an active listener creates an atmosphere of understanding and rapport and helps both speaker and listener to have a clearer understanding of the situation.

The individual is in crisis, because of their inadequate coping skills and are not able to handle the crisis at hand. They are already feeling out of control. Don’t compound that feeling by excluding them from the solution process.

NEVER as in DO NOT EVER! Do not “call their bluff.” Even if the individual states they are going to commit suicide but you feel they are just looking for attention, not believing them is too dangerous. Do not take the risk.

Do not create a lose-lose situation
Do not create a lose-lose situation. By intensifying feelings of anger and embarrassment it will only result in closed communication

Assessment Identification Problem areas Issues needed addressing 34

Limited to the assistance of identifying specific problem areas and what issues need to be addressed as a result of this identification. Nothing else should be assessed as nothing else is needed to deal with the immediate crisis.

WHY Some individual’s lives may be very complex and seem so disorganized that identifying a specific problem area in their crisis experience may be difficult. But by doing so it provides the individual with evidence that regaining control is possible

Questioning Narrow options Questioning Process List alternatives
Best solution 37

It is helpful to assist the individual through a questioning process in order to narrow options (What has worked for you in the past?) and in listing alternatives to their problem area in order to obtain a clearer picture of what the individual is willing to do to manage the crisis situation.

Once alternatives have been discussed, a joint decision will need to be made to choose the best solution within the available parameters.

Solutions These solutions should be focused enough that the individual has a specific course of action; vague or ambiguous plans like “go home and talk to your family,” or “make an appointment for more meds” is too abstract; concrete statements are needed for clarity.

The simpler the solution, the quicker an implementation can be achieved and the individual experiences feelings of hope. Reminder: even though the intervener can offer solutions, it is the individual in crisis that must be willing to act and accept any consequences associated with the solution.

LISTEN Model Process……. Encourage individual to talk to you
Share their feelings Seek to understand if you want to be understood Non-Judgmental LISTEN

Assessment Problem areas Best solution Identification
Issues needed addressing Questioning Process Narrow options List alternatives Best solution

Class Exercise Jointly brainstorm possible solutions to the problem area and how to present these solutions to an individual in crisis. Each group will then come up with a plan for finding an appropriate and specific referral source. You are looking for resources specific to the problem!

Scenario Discussion You encounter a man outside the window of a 10 story building and he says he is going to jump. You encounter a woman from Moldavia who tells you in broken English she wants to kill herself. You encounter a 14-year old run-a-way who refuses to give you her name and address

1.4 Incorporate the technique of Crisis Intervention into Officer Safety

Crisis Intervention Training
Is foremost an officer safety training. It will assist in keeping the officer, community, and mental health consumer safer in difficult and potentially volatile situations.

The person in a mental health crisis is usually
excited, alarmed, confused, and feeling a lack of control. NO WHERE TO RUN (FLIGHT or FIGHT)??

When a person feels cornered, especially if a mental illness is present, the individual could respond with sudden violence. In crisis, reason takes a back seat to emotion, even when one does not have a mental illness.

“The essential difference between suspect encounter training…and how to approach the mentally ill is the need to be non-confrontational…to shift gears…opposed to the way officers are routinely expected to control conflict…” (Police Magazine)

The same command techniques that are employed to take a criminal into custody can only serve to escalate a contact with the mentally ill into violence.” (Police Magazine, March 2000)

Crisis Intervention Training
Is proven to be effective in helping you de-escalate the situation so that you are not placed in the position of having to use force.

As with all crises, a situation can quickly escalate to violence if not handled appropriately, and officers may find themselves in a situation requiring the use of force.

Decision Making Model Define Assess Respond Evaluate
What is the situation or event? (Define and ID the problem) What are your viable choices? (Pro’s – Con’s & Consequences) Make a decision based on best CHOICE and probable best outcome. Was your choices a good one? Did the end justify the means?

Class Exercise #1 A 75-year-old man is found roaming a busy highway outside an area hospital. He has just been notified his wife has died. He is also in the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s.

What SAFETY precautions will you take? For yourself and for the woman
How would you respond? Define Assess Respond Evaluate What SAFETY precautions will you take? For yourself and for the woman 56 What is Policy & Procedure for such an incident? What if you are off-duty? Does that Change how you will respond? 56

Class Exercise #2 Knowing that you have taken a Crisis Intervention class, a friend calls you from his sister’s home. His sister has just been badly beaten by her husband, who has stormed out of the house. The sister is hysterical and does not know what to do

How would you respond? Define Assess Respond Evaluate What SAFETY precautions will you take? For yourself and for the woman 58 What is Policy & Procedure for such an incident? What if you are off-duty? Does that Change how you will respond?

Class Exercise #3 A female caller phones the station and states she is suicidal; her life is going nowhere and she doesn’t see the point in living. She mentions at one point that she has “taken her pills.” (Pills may not mean overdose; it could mean daily medications)

How would you respond? Define Assess Respond Evaluate What SAFETY precautions will you take? For yourself and for the woman What is Policy & Procedure for such an incident? What if you are off-duty? Does that Change how you will respond? 60

Class Exercise #4 You hear honking and brakes screeching at a busy intersection. A young boy is hunched in the intersection cradling a small injured dog. Upon approaching, a neighbor tells you that the boy is autistic.

What SAFETY precautions will you take? For yourself and for the boy
How would you respond? Define Assess Respond Evaluate What SAFETY precautions will you take? For yourself and for the boy What is Policy & Procedure for such an incident? What if you are off-duty? Does that Change how you will respond? 62

Class Exercise #5 A young woman is seated on a park bench after dark in a dangerous part of town. She is unresponsive but holding a crumpled paper in her hand. The paper is a copy of a blood test stating that she is HIV positive.

How would you respond? Define Assess Respond Evaluate What SAFETY precautions will you take? For yourself and for the woman What is Policy & Procedure for such an incident? What if you are off-duty? Does that Change how you will respond? 64

1.5 Critique intervention techniques for their proactive abilities

Proactive Interventions:
Proactive vs. Reactive Proactive Interventions: Address need’s prior to a problem or action Reactive Intervention: Already escalated behavior

Proactive Interventions
Are those that address an individual’s need’s prior to a problem or action arising. If proactive interventions are effective, crisis interventions will lessen. By being proactive in the identification of the warning signs to crisis behavior, individual needs can be met before a problem arises.

Reactive The opposite action to being proactive is reactive. Reactive interventions are those that deal with already escalated behaviors. This is when we need to utilize crisis intervention techniques in order to stabilize the situation so that the individual can be calm enough to address their individual needs.

An appropriate reactive intervention may require use of force techniques

1.6 Apply knowledge of cultural background to crisis behavior

We live in a culturally diverse society where trauma is universal
We live in a culturally diverse society where trauma is universal. But crisis response may vary dependent on the perception or interpretation of a threats meaning and the cultures nature of expression.

Response to individuals in crisis needs to include an understanding of behaviors within the context of their cultures. Thus a crisis intervention model should take cultural backgrounds into effect.

Perception or interpretation of a threat’s meaning
Trauma is universal… …but crisis response varies. Consider: How culture impact’s one’s perspective of trauma Perception or interpretation of a threat’s meaning Cultures nature of expression

Issues to be considered discussing crisis behavior in a cultural context
To understand the way members of different cultures view the nature, cause and treatment of crisis behavior To understand how culture impacts one’s perspective of trauma To reflect and to be more cognizant of one’s own perspectives on human tragedies

Different Cultures Different Strategies
Explain purpose and need for probing questions Acknowledge limitations and differences Establish your competence in understanding a crisis impact whether or not you understand the cultural context of the event

Express an interest to learn about the ethnic group involved
Focus on immediate plans Be aware of your own cultural biases and do not be judgmental Express an interest to learn about the ethnic group involved Be aware of culturally specific communication techniques

Use appropriate body language
Build trust Ask if family or clergy should be present during discussions Openly acknowledge your limitations with language or other communications Use appropriate body language

Psychology of Presence
One’s presence can and does mean more than what you say …..”it is far more important that they know you care”.

2.1 Reinforce through discussion the term “mental illness”

Definition: “Mental Illness”
General Definition: MENTAL ILLNESS is a general term that refers to a group of brain disorders that affect the way a person thinks, feels, behaves, and/or relates to others and to his/her surroundings.

Although the symptoms of mental illness can vary from mild to severe, a person with mental illness often is unable to cope with life’s daily routines and demands.”

Professional Definition: Mental illness is diagnosed based on behaviors and thinking as evaluated by a psychiatrist, psychologist, licensed professional counselor, licensed social worker, or other qualified professionals using a tool known as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, most commonly called the DSM-IV.

Definition per Texas Health and Safety Code: an illness, disease, or condition, other than epilepsy, senility, alcoholism, or mental deficiency, that: Substantially impairs a person’s thought, perception of reality, emotional process, or judgment; or Grossly impairs behavior as demonstrated by recent disturbed behavior.

Insanity: Insanity is considered “a diminished capacity and inability to tell right from wrong.”
This is not a psychological term. The definition varies from state to state. It is generally used by the court with regard to an individual’s competency to stand trial.

Abnormal vs. Normal Behavior: A sharp dividing line between “normal” and “abnormal” behavior does not exist. Adjustment seems to follow what is called a “normal distribution,” with most people clustered around the center and the rest spreading out toward the extremes.

What causes mental illness?
The exact cause of most mental disorders are unknown, however, research shows us that they are caused by a combination of genetic, biological, psychological, and environmental factors

Causes Genetic Factors (Heredity) Biological Factors
Psychological Factors (Trauma) Environmental Factors (Stressors) Non-Discriminatory

Genetic Factors (Heredity)
Genetic Factors (Heredity): The susceptibility of many mental disorders is linked through multiple genes in a family chain. The disorder itself occurs from the interaction of these genes and other factors such as, psychological trauma and environmental stressors which can influence, or trigger the disorder into occurrence.

Biological Factors Biological Factors: Mental disorders have been linked to certain chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters assist the nerve cells in the brain to communicate with one another. An imbalance or injury to these cells has been linked to mental disorders.

Psychological Factors
Psychological Factors (Trauma): Mental disorders can also be triggered by trauma. This trauma could happen at any life stage; from physical or sexual abuse as a child, to loss of a parent or spouse to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as a war veteran

Environmental Factors
Environmental Factors (Stressors): Life events can create stressors that trigger a disorder to present itself in a person at risk for developing a mental illness. Such events could include: death or divorce, dysfunctional family life, changing jobs or schools, and substance abuse.

Non-Discriminatory Non-Discriminatory: It affects people of any age, socioeconomic level, or cultural background. Although mental illness affects both genders and ages, certain disorders affect one gender or age grouping predominantly over another. Such as;

EXAMPLES eating disorders tend to occur in women more than men,
and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) occurs predominantly in children.

2.2 List common symptoms of mental disorders

Symptoms Symptoms vary depending on the type and severity of the disorder. Some general symptoms that might suggest a mental disorder could include:

Confused thinking Long-lasting sadness or irritability Extreme highs and lows in mood Excessive fear, worrying, or anxiety Social withdrawal

Thoughts of suicide Dramatic changes in sleeping or eating
Strong feelings of anger/frequent outbursts Delusions or hallucinations Increasing inability to cope with daily problems and activities Thoughts of suicide

Denial of obvious problems
Many unexplained physical problems Abuse of drugs and/or alcohol Defying authority, missing school/work, stealing, damaging property Hyperactivity

Panic attacks Distorted thoughts Inappropriate behavior for situation False beliefs despite evidence to the contrary Paranoia

Compulsive behavior Inflexible personality traits What are some other symptoms based on your own individual field experiences?

Class Exercise 2.2 Make a list of other symptoms you have experienced – observed during your law enforcement careers. You have 10-minutes Group Discussion

2.3 Compile general categories of the most prominent mental disorders and the mental illnesses that populate these categories

There are many disorders that are recognized as a mental illness
There are many disorders that are recognized as a mental illness. The most prominent categories that contain these mental illnesses include:

Mood Disorder A mood disorder is another type of mental illness demonstrated by disturbances in one’s emotional reactions and feelings. Severe depression and bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, are referred to as mood disorders.

Recognizable behaviors that associate with mood disorders could include:
lack of interest and pleasure in activities, extreme and rapid mood swings, impaired judgment, explosive temper, increased spending and delusions.

Mood Disorders Most common: Depression Bipolar Disorder

Psychotic Disorders Psychosis is an illness involving a distortion of reality that may be accompanied by delusions and/or hallucinations. The person may be hearing voices, he may look at a person and see a demon, he may think people are after him, or he may believe himself to be Jesus Christ.

These are most commonly seen in persons with
schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe depression or drug induced disorders. Physical circumstances can also induce a psychotic state.

Potential conditions include:
organic brain disorders (brain injury or infections to the brain), electrolyte disorder, pain syndromes, and drug withdrawal.

Definition of Delusion
False beliefs not based on factual information. The person may overreact to the situations or may appear to have what is called a “flat affect,” where he shows no emotion or does not seem to care about what is going on around him. (Examples); social isolation, inappropriate emotions, odd beliefs, magical thinking

Definition of Hallucinations
Distortions in the senses, causing the individual to experience hearing or seeing something that is not there poor processing of information and illogical thinking that can result in disorganized and rambling speech and/or delusions.

It is not uncommon for a person hearing voices to hear two or more at a time.
If you approach the person an start yelling at him, you are only adding to his confusion. Imagine having two or three people shouting at you all at once while an officer is trying to give you directions.

Psychotic Disorders Organic Brain Disorders Pain Syndromes
Most Common: Organic Brain Disorders Pain Syndromes Drug Withdrawal

Anxiety Disorders Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress. It helps one deal with tense situations. In general, it helps one cope. But when anxiety becomes excessive and irrational in everyday situations, it has become a disabling disorder.

Unlike the relatively mild, brief anxiety caused by a stressful event (such as speaking in public), anxiety disorders last at least six months and can get worse if they are not treated. Anxiety disorders commonly occur along with other mental or physical illnesses, including alcohol or substance abuse, which may mask anxiety symptoms or make them worse.

Anxiety Disorders Panic Attacks Phobias Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Most Common: Panic Attacks Phobias Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Is a psychiatric disorder that can occur following the experience/witnessing of life-threatening events such as military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious accidents, or violent personal assaults like rape.

People who suffer from PTSD often relive the experience through nightmares and flashbacks, have difficulty sleeping, and feel detached or estranged. These symptoms can be severe enough and last long enough to significantly impair the person's daily life.

PTSD frequently occurs in conjunction with other disorders such as
depression, substance abuse, problems with cognition, and other physical and mental health issues.

PTSD is also associated with impairment of the person's ability to
function in social or family life, including occupational instability, marital and family difficulties

An estimated 7.8 percent of Americans will experience PTSD at some point in their lives, with women (10.4%) twice as likely as men (5%). About 3.6 percent of U.S. adults aged 18 to 54 (5.2 million people) have PTSD during the course of a given year. This represents a small portion of those who have experienced at least one traumatic event; 60.7% of men and 51.2% of women reported at least one traumatic event

About 30 percent of the men and women who have spent time in war zones experience PTSD.
An additional 20 to 25 percent have had partial PTSD at some point in their lives. More than 1/2 of all male and female Vietnam veterans are experienced "clinically serious stress reaction symptoms."

PTSD has also been detected among veterans of the Gulf War, with some estimates running as high as 8 percent. The Marines and Army were nearly four times more likely to report PTSD than Navy or Air Force because of their greater exposure to combat situations Enlisted men were twice as likely as officers to report PTSD percent to 10 percent of active-duty women and retired military women who served in Iraq suffer from PTSD Studies show that U.S. women serving in Iraq suffer from more pronounced and debilitating forms of PTSD than their male counterparts.

A Defense Department study of combat troops returning from Iraq found 1 in 6 soldiers and Marines acknowledged symptoms of severe depression and PTSD, and 6 in 10 of these same veterans were unlikely to seek help out of fear their commanders and fellow troops would treat them differently.

Cognitive Disorders Most Common: Alzheimer’s Disease 125

Cognitive Disorders Alzheimer’s disease: The most common organic mental disorder of older people is Alzheimer’s disease. An individual experiencing this disease may get lost easily, have poor memory, and become easily agitated. It is estimated that 2-3 million Americans are afflicted with Alzheimer’s, and that over 11,000 die from it each year.

Alzheimer’s Additional FACTS
Alzheimer’s is a form of dementia It is not considered a mental illness, and most mental health facilities will not admit Alzheimer’s patients Drugs can help the progression of the disease, but there is no cure. It is now being diagnosed in persons considerably younger than 65.

Substance-Related Disorders
Most common: Stimulants Alcohol Heroin

Substance-related Disorders
Prolonged abuse of any drug (alcohol, prescription medications, or “street” drugs) will cause chemical dependency or addiction. This has an effect on consciousness, and if used long enough or in large dosages, may cause permanent damage to the central nervous system.

This may cause a wide range of psychological reactions that can be classified as disorders. Smoking a stimulant like crack cocaine can cause paranoid symptoms, as prolonged alcohol use can produce depressive symptoms. A person who is physically dependent on heroin will show anxious behavior if usage is discontinued

Illegal drug and alcohol usage is also a primary concern for individuals with a mental illness.
These substances can have an adverse effect when used in combination with prescribed medications as well as having a masking effect on more severe symptoms.

Use of illegal drugs and alcohol in a self-medicating way can also create a dependency as well as a roller coaster effect due to lack of consistency and medical monitoring.

Substance abuse treatment is a critical element in a comprehensive system of care.
Research conducted over the last decade has shown that the most successful models of treatment for people with co-occurring disorders provide integrated mental health and substance abuse services.

Substance and cognitive disorders symptoms include
A major loss of contact with reality A gross interference with the ability to meet life’s demands May have possible delusions and hallucinations Alteration of mood

Substance Abuse Causes Defects in
perception, language, memory, and cognition

Personality Disorders
Most Common: Paranoid Antisocial Borderline

Many individuals who are functioning well in their lives may display characteristics of what are known as personality disorders. Individuals experiencing these disorders show personality traits that are inflexible, maladaptive, or inappropriate for the situation, and this causes significant problems in their lives

Those individuals who have personality disorders usually have very little insight that they have a problem, and tend to believe that the problems are caused by other people, the “system,” or the world at large. These traits are often accompanied by some form of depression and may also be seen in those with chemical dependency problems

Persons with personality disorders are not usually treated like those with other mental illnesses, but are taught a variety of; communication and coping skills, or treated for other problems such as chemical dependency or depression

Paranoid: Tendency to interpret the actions of others as deliberately threatening or demeaning Foresee being in position to be used or harmed by others Perceive dismissiveness from other people

Antisocial: Most commonly recognized in males
A pattern of irresponsible and antisocial behavior diagnosed at or after age 18 May have one or more of the following:

Antisocial Behavior Signs:
History of truancy as a child or adolescent, may have run away from home Starting fights Using weapons Physically abusing animals or other people

Deliberately destroying others’ property
Lying Stealing Other illegal behavior

As adults, these people often have trouble with authority and are reluctant or unwilling to conform to society’s expectations of family and work These individuals know that what they are doing is wrong, but do it anyway

Borderline unstable and intense personal relationships
Most commonly recognized in females May have one or more of the following: unstable and intense personal relationships impulsiveness with relationships, spending, food, drugs, sex

intense anger or lack of control of anger
recurrent suicidal threats chronic feelings of emptiness or boredom feelings of abandonment

2.4 Categorize common symptoms of mental illness with a prominent mental disorder

Class Exercise 2.4 Utilize the list compiled in learning objective 2.2 and mental disorders/illnesses discussed in learning objective 2.3 to match symptoms to categories of disorders/illnesses.

Mental Symptoms 2.4 (ref 2.2) Confused thinking
Long-lasting sadness or irritability Extreme highs and lows in mood Excessive fear, worrying, or anxiety Social withdrawal 149

Dramatic changes in sleeping or eating
Strong feelings of anger/frequent outbursts Delusions or hallucinations Increasing inability to cope with daily problems and activities Thoughts of suicide Denial of obvious problems

Many unexplained physical problems
Abuse of drugs and/or alcohol Defying authority, missing school/work, stealing, damaging property Hyperactivity Panic attacks Distorted thoughts

Mental Disorders 2.4 (ref 2.3)
Mood Disorder Psychotic Disorder Anxiety Disorder Cognitive Disorder Substance-Abuse Disorder Personality Disorder

2.5 Identify suicidal ideations in mental illness protocols
Questions that will assist in evaluating an individual’s current level of suicidal danger:

Evaluating Levels of DANGER
Symptoms Nature of current stressor Method and Degree Prior Attempt

Acute vs. Chronic Medical Status Chance for Rescue Social Resources

2.6 Outline the four major categories of psychotropic medications

Medications can be an effective treatment
for mental illness. While it is not a cure, they are used to control symptoms and improve coping skills, which can then help reduce the severity of the mental illness. Most individuals who are on psychiatric medications for mental illness will continue taking them for the rest of their lives.

Psychotropic Medications (Categories of Drugs)
Anti-psychotic Antidepressants Mood Stabilizers Anti-anxiety Drugs Old vs. New Medications?

Anti-psychotic Thorazine, Mellaril, Haldol
controls hallucinations (e.g., schizophrenia)

Antidepressants Elavil, Prozac, Zoloft control feelings of sadness,
feelings of hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts (e.g., depression)

Mood Stabilizers Tegratol, Lithium, Depakote
control mood swings (e.g., bipolar disorder)

Anti-anxiety Drugs Xanax, Valium, Buspar

Old vs. New Medications? have significantly fewer side effects, but old drugs are still used today, especially with the indigent (due to lower costs) It is important to be familiar with the older medications, due to their more prevalent usage with the indigent and jail populations. The newer antipsychotic medications are more costly.

There is an “old” class of drugs, such as Haldol, that have some very negative side effects, such as
severe sedation, possible impotence, etc. There is also a “new” class of drugs that treat the disease much better and have fewer side effects. The “older” drugs are still in use today!

Side Effects Uncomfortable Dehumanizing Irreversible Tartive Dyskensia

Tartive Dyskensia a disorder resulting in involuntary, repetitive body movements, the involuntary movements are tardive, meaning they have a slow or belated onset. This neurological disorder frequently appears after long-term or high-dose use of antipsychotic drugs,

EXAMPLE SYMPTOMS muscle spasms, protruding tongue, eyes rolled back,
constant leg movement, tremors, uncoordinated movements,

impotence, nausea, headache, blurred vision, weight gain, fatigue, liver toxicity

As noted, some of these side effects are permanent, even after the medications have been stopped, due to the medications tendency to effect neurological damage. Many of these medications are also lethal when taken in excess. Careful monitoring is necessary due to many mentally ill consumer symptoms include disorganization and difficulty remembering

Why do people fail to take their prescribed MEDICATIONS?
nasty side effects, the stigma associated with being mentally ill, i.e., they don’t want people to know they have a mental illness. They start feeling better and think they no longer need the medications.

Do you take your medications as prescribed
Do you take your medications as prescribed? Based on so many pill(s) with specified time (hours)? As you feel you need it? Do you stop when you feel better before checking with your doctor?

RIGHT to REFUSE TREATMENT
A person may not administer a psychoactive medication to a patient who refuses to take the medication voluntarily unless the patient is in need of a medication related to an emergency, or the patient is under an order authorizing the administration of the medication regardless of the patient’s refusal.

3.0 Develop an increased understanding of the legal process; evaluation and techniques for appropriateness of apprehension

Once you have the individual in crisis under control, you may need to take him to a facility for emergency psychiatric evaluation. Depending on the resources in your area, this may be a time-consuming process. There may be a lack of services. Be aware of this potential challenge, but don’t let it detract you from your goal of responding professionally and appropriately to the situation

3.1 Analyze the law enforcement decision-making process utilizing the concept of “discretion”

As with all law enforcement decisions the officer exercises discretion in choosing the most appropriate disposition for every situation of involvement. The law provides a functional structure for intervention, but it does not dictate the officer’s specific situational response.

Disposition of a mentally ill consumer is doubly difficult due to its social aspects and the nebulous definitions of a mental disorder. The “gray” area appearing due to cultural values, community context, and administrative practice, might label an individual criminal, psychiatric, or merely odd in behavior.

Degrees of Discretion Severity Resources
Dependent on: Severity Resources Major Areas of Disposition: Emergency Psychiatric Apprehension Informal Disposition

Degree of discretion Dependent on severity of the precipitating event and possibly the availability of community services and resources. For example: a consumer cannot be placed into a treatment facility if consumer has committed a felony. Conversely, a consumer may be arrested for a minor behavioral infraction due to lack of needed supervised placement.

Conversely, a consumer may be arrested for a minor behavioral infraction due to lack of needed supervised placement. Nevertheless, officers generally have a great deal of discretion in this area. The major areas of disposition include: emergency psychiatric apprehension, arrest, and informal disposition

Class Discussion Discretion
What are some common discretionary practices? What are some job-related incidents where you have used discretionary practices?

Emergency Apprehension and Detention
Texas Health and Safety Code, Title 7, Chapter 573 Texas Health and Safety Code, Title 7, Chapter 574 Court Ordered.

3.2 Summarize the legal category’s directly related to mentally ill consumers and crisis incident control

Least Restrictive Alternative
Texas Health and Safety Code, Title 7, Chapter

Court Ordered Mental Health Services
Texas Health and Safety Code, Title 7, Chapter 574

There are many issues surrounding mentally ill consumers who are charged with crimes.
Two prominent cases in the state of Texas have been Andrea Yates who killed her five children by drowning in June 2001 and Deanna Laney who bludgeoned her three sons with rocks in May 2003.

YATES & LANEY Cases These two cases caused substantial debate in the Texas legal and political communities relating to the Texas insanity defense, appropriate treatment, and capital punishment for offenders with serious mental illness.

YATES CASE Around 10:00am on June 20, 2001, Rusty Yates received a startling phone call from his wife, Andrea, whom he had left only an hour before. "You need to come home," she said. Puzzled, he asked, "What's going on?“ She just repeated her statement and then added, "It's time. I did it.“ Not entirely sure what she meant but in light of her recent illness, he asked her to explain and she said, "It's the children.“ Now a chill shot through him. "Which one?" he asked. "All of them.“ He dropped everything and left his job as a NASA engineer at the Johnson Space Center. When he arrived fifteen minutes later, the police and ambulances were already at their Houston, Texas home on the corner of Beachcomber and Sea Lark in the Clear Lake area. Rusty was told he could not go in, so he put his forehead against a brick wall, trying to process the horrifying news, and waited. Restless for information, he went to a window and on to the back door where he screamed, "How could you do this?" According to an article in Time, at one point Rusty Yates collapsed into a fetal position on the lawn, pounding the ground as he watched his wife being led away in handcuffs. John Cannon, the police spokesperson, described for the media what the team had found. On a double bed in a back master bedroom, four children were laid out beneath a sheet, clothed and soaking wet. All of them were dead, with their eyes wide open. In the bathtub, a young boy was submerged amid feces and vomit floating on the surface. He looked to be the oldest and he was also dead. In less than an hour that morning, five children had all been drowned, and the responding officers were deeply affected. The children's thin, bespectacled mother---the woman who had called 911 seeking help---appeared able to talk coherently, but her frumpy striped shirt and stringy brown hair were soaked. She let the officers in, told them without emotion that she had killed her children, and sat down while they checked. Detective Ed Mehl thought she seemed focused when he asked her questions. She told him she was a bad mother and expected to be punished. Then she allowed the police to take her into custody while medical personnel checked the children for any sign of life. This crime story would unravel in dark and strange ways, with the reasons why a loving mother of five had drowned all of her children tangled in issues of depression, religious fanaticism, and psychosis. The nation would watch with polarized opinions , as the State of Texas was forced into a determination about justice that was rooted in glaringly outdated ideas about mental illness. But in the meantime, Andrea Yates sat in a jail cell and Rusty Yates had to deal with a demanding media that not only wanted a scoop but also wanted an answer. Why would any mother murder all of her children?

LANEY CASE No one thought there was something wrong with 39-year-old Deanna Laney on Mother's Day weekend in 2003. That's why they could not have predicted what she was about to do. A housewife in New Chapel Hill, Texas who saw herself as a religious sister to Andrea Yates, the housewife who drowned her five children in 2001, Laney began to see "signs." Her 14-month-old son, Aaron, was playing with a spear. That was the first signal from God that she was to do something to her children. She resisted, not certain that she understood. But the signs continued. The case was broadcast on Court TV, and covered by newspapers, television talk shows nationwide and by Internet Web sites. When Aaron presented Laney with a rock that day, she later reported that she believed she was supposed to pay attention. This was a symbol. Later that same day, he squeezed a frog. Then she understood. She was to kill her children, either by stoning them, strangling them or stabbing them. God had shown her three ways. Again she told God no, but again she felt pressured to comply. "Each time it was getting worse and worse," she later said, "the way it had to be done." In other words, the more she resisted, the worse the death would be for her children. She decided that rocks would be preferable to strangulation, so she found some in preparation. Laney knew she had to "step out in faith." She had to trust God, and she believed that God would use her brutal deed to do something great. He had done such things in the Bible. Then when Laney woke up before midnight on May 9, she knew that the time was at hand. She had already hidden a rock in Aaron's room, so she went there first. Lifting the rock, she hit Aaron hard on the skull. He began to cry, alerting her husband, Keith. He asked what was wrong and Laney kept her back to him to prevent him from seeing what she was doing. She assured Keith that everything was okay. But it wasn't okay. Aaron was still breathing, so she put a pillow over his face until she heard him gurgle. She silently told God that He would have to finish the job. Next Laney went after her other two sons. She took Luke, six, outside first in his underwear and smashed his skull by hitting him repeatedly with a large rock. Then she dragged him by the feet into the shadows so that Joshua, eight, would not see him. She left the stone, the size of a dinner plate, lying on top of him. Joshua was next and Laney repeated to him what she had done with Luke, placing them together in a dark area of the yard. Afterward, she called 911 to report, "I killed my boys.“ When the police came, they found Aaron still alive. He was taken away and it eventually became clear that both his vision and motor skills were severely impaired. Outside, the police saw Laney standing still in blood-stained clothes. She indicated where she had left the boys and they found the bodies lying beneath large rocks. Both boys had serious head wounds. Laney was arrested, leaving her bewildered, horrified husband to wonder what had happened.

Discussion Did the offenders activities that lead to the criminal charges stem from their mental illness?

3.3 Appraise the legalities and ethical considerations of consumer rights

Consumers have certain rights attributed to them per state and federal laws as well as ethical considerations. Application of those rights however, may differ dependent on the status of the consumer and their current and past situations. Areas to consider when discussing consumer legal rights would include:

Areas to consider… Competency Age Criminal Residency Court Orders
Orders of Protective Custody

3.4 Illustrate the reasoning of “arresting to manage”

Several studies have indicated that arrest is often utilized to manage the mentally ill consumer. There are a number of reasons why this reasoning occurs.

Rejected for treatment
Reasons Exceeds community tolerance Person will continue to cause problem Behavior not severe enough Too dangerous Rejected for treatment

When the consumer is too dangerous to be treated in a hospital/clinic
When the officer feels the consumer’s behavior is not severe enough to be admitted to hospital/clinic but too severe to leave on street When the consumer is too dangerous to be treated in a hospital/clinic

When the hospital/clinic rejects the consumer and arrest is the only option available
EXAMPLE

“At 8pm we saw that an ambulance was stopping in back of a parked bus
“At 8pm we saw that an ambulance was stopping in back of a parked bus. The ambulance personal ran inside the bus and brought out a large burly man. The officers exclaimed, “Charlie, what are you doing?” Charlie greeted them with equal friendliness. Evidently, Charlie was the neighborhood character. The bus driver, not realizing Charlie was drunk, was afraid he was ill and had called for an ambulance. The paramedics, seeing that Charlie was only drunk, left them in charge. The officers asked Charlie if he wanted to go to detox and he said “sure”. The people at detox took one look at Charlie and would not accept him. Evidently, he was potentially violent and disruptive. The officers asked if they would sign a complaint. They said yes. Evidently he had been to the jail so often that they already had a sheet on him so it was easy to get him a cell. The officer explained to me that Charlie was a problem because he wasn’t crazy enough to go to the mental hospital. The people wouldn’t accept him because he was potentially violent and often drunk. The detox people didn’t want him even though he was an alcoholic, because he was potentially violent and disrupted other patients with his crazy ways. So that left jail. They would put him in lock-up overnight; they would get him off the street. Charlie was booked for disorderly conduct. The detox facility was the complainant, although he had done nothing disorderly.”

Why do inappropriate arrests occur?
Inadequate liaison between police and mental health system Inadequacies in mental health system

3.5 Give examples of the types of mentally ill consumers that are handled in an informal manner by law enforcement

Informal Examples Neighborhood Characters Troublemakers
Quiet Consumers

Neighborhood Characters
These consumers reside in your community. Their odd behaviors and dress set them apart from the general public. Police know them as “Crazy Mary,” “Dirty Dean,” and “Loud Larry.” They are thought to need treatment but are not hospitalized due to their predictable and consistent behavior. The community tolerates them and may even see them as a type of icon.

Class Exercise (EXAMPLE)
“A lady in the area claims she has neighbors who are beaming rays up into her apartment.” How do the officers handle this situation given the above information?

Troublemaker Unlike the neighborhood characters, troublemakers are unpredictable. Officers utilize informal dispositions because it is thought to be too difficult to handle any other way. Their psychiatric symptoms cause disorder in the community but mental health providers will not accept due to disruptive behavior as well.

Whenever this consumer came into the police station he caused a disruption. He would take off his clothes, run around the station nude, and urinate on the sergeant’s desk. They felt it was such a hassle to have him at the station they just quit arresting him

Quiet Consumers These consumers behavior is unobtrusive.
They don’t offend the community or the police. Their symptoms are neither serious enough to hospitalize or disruptive enough to result in an arrest.

A restaurant owner complained that the consumer had been trying the door of the closed business next to the restaurant. The officer recognized the consumer as a street person. The man wore several stocking caps under a helmet, safety goggles, several scarves around his neck, and layers of clothing, topped by an overcoat. He was carrying a shopping bag and a cardboard box. The officers questioned and searched him. The man kept thanking the officers for not arresting him. The consumer said he had seen a psychiatrist in Kentucky and Indiana and hadn’t been to an area hospital. What should the officers do?

How do you feel about the above
An officer’s decision often depends more on the socio-psychological aspects of the situation instead of the psychiatric. How do you feel about the above statement?

3.6 Compile a list of mental health referrals/resources in the student’s community

The quality and availability of mental health programs vary depending on community mindset and budgeting restraints. Even within a community, services available depend on timing, resources, and program eligibility criteria.

Too often, community mental health resources are just in short supply.
High costs of prescription drugs and formulary limitations also make it impossible for an indigent person to get access to needed medications.

State hospitals were once the primary treatment facility
State hospitals were once the primary treatment facility. They have since been replaced by community-based mental health entities. Many of these entities have very strict admission criteria and officers often find placement in these facilities difficult.

Individuals normally must meet certain diagnostic criteria for inclusion due to funding resources; and Alcohol & drug usage or substance-induced or non-neurobiological disorders may be disqualified for admission.

MENTAL HEATH FACALITIES
San Antonio Metropolitan Health District (Metro Health) Center for Health Care Services (210) or (210) Senior Placement Assistance (210) Christian Alcohol & Drug Rehab – Detox (210) Camino Real Mental Retardation (830) Bexar County Community Health (210) Bexar County Community Resources (210)

Class Discussion What specific guidelines/rules have you run into in dealing with these resources?

MHMR or comparable entity for state referral sources per region
Bexar County Mental Health Mental Retardation Center Culebra Core Group Home3602 Culebra Road San Antonio, TX (210)

Stumbling Blocks Placement difficult Criminal Charges Cooperation

Another stumbling block to mental health resources is that of criminal charges. Persons with criminal charges pending, no matter how minor, are not considered for placement. In addition to the previously mentioned resource challenges, there is also an impasse with the willingness of mental health providers to participate in criminal justice initiated programs

Without cooperative programs and equal cooperation between law enforcement and mental health entities, the system is unwittingly discouraging initiation of mental health referrals.

Class Discussion How can we improve the relationship between police and the mental health system? How do we reduce the number of inappropriate arrests?

3.7 Discuss Mental Health Transformation-Related Legislation in Texas

Addressing Fragmentation
Funding awards Ultimate Objective

FUNDING AWARDS To assist states’ efforts in addressing the fragmentation of mental health service delivery system, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) awarded funding to seven states over a period of five years. Texas was selected as one of these states.

Texas was awarded a grant “to build a solid foundation for delivering evidence-based mental health and related services, fostering recovery, improving a quality of life, and meeting the multiple needs of mental health consumer’s across the life span.”

Ultimate Objective build a mental health system that promotes wellness, resilience, and recovery. A transformed system is drastically different from the current system which has limited access to care, inconsistent quality of care, and disjointed coordination and continuity of care across agencies and providers.

In order to fully implement and support transformation, many state agencies must alter their existing policies and service delivery in a coordinated manner with the guidance of consumers, family members, and advocates. One of the mechanisms for transforming the mental health system in Texas is well on its way.

Data sharing through electronic health care data banks is proving to be a vital resource in maintaining continuity in mental health care

Class Discussion Mental Health data banks,
confidentiality concerning this release of information, and Officer experience utilizing these resources.

Closing Statements Law Enforcement officers are recognized as the first responders for individuals who are experiencing a mental health crisis.

In the absence of specialized training and knowledge about the mental health system, such a crisis may end in arrest and incarceration when treatment and referral might be more appropriate. The legislature has created a viable framework for diversion and treatment of many consumers who face criminal charges.

Unfortunately, this has not been the case for a number of years
For diversion initiatives to be successful, legislators, judges, prosecutors and law enforcement need to work closely with community and state mental health officials

A CIT partnership between the law enforcement, the mental health system, consumers of services, and family members can help in efforts to assist persons who are experiencing a mental health crisis to gain access to the treatment system, where such individuals most often are best served.

Negative (Downside) The absence of collaboration between law enforcement and mental health systems has been identified as one crucial factor in the age of criminalization of the mentally ill

QUESTIONS

Evaluation & TEST Please complete your CIT Course Evaluation.
Clear your desk for final test Make sure you put your Name and PID# on each page of the Test. When you have finished take a break

GRADE TEST Exchange papers with person behind you.
Back row exchange papers with front row. Place your name and PID# on last Page showing you graded this test.

Place an X left side of question # fror each incorrect answer.
Take total number of questions missed, multiply by 2 and deduct that number from 100. Place final score on top right of front (fist) page of Test.

THANK YOU

Crisis Intervention Refresher Course

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