Mental Illness Emergencies and Police Response

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Police-Citizen Encounters
Stressors faced by Police
Assessments for Police Interventions
Scenario
Conclusion
References

Introduction

Law enforcement agencies and the police are tasked with responding to various types of emergencies, including those that involve individuals with mental illness. Mental illness affects a significant portion of the population, and law enforcement agencies must have the necessary training and resources to deal with these individuals effectively and appropriately. According to Dempsey et al. (2019), the roles of law enforcement agencies and the police when dealing with individuals with mental illness are to assess the situation, intervene, provide support, and connect individuals with mental illness with appropriate resources.

Police-Citizen Encounters

Encountering individuals with mental illness is familiar to law enforcement agencies and police officers. These encounters can be challenging and stressful for individuals with mental illness and the responding officers. How law enforcement agencies and police officers respond to individuals with mental illness is crucial, as it can significantly impact the situation’s outcome. According to Seo, Kim, and Kruis (2020), the effectiveness of police response to individuals with mental illness depends on the specific model used. Some models prioritize the protection of public safety, while others prioritize the well-being of the individual with mental illness.

Stressors faced by Police

The stressors faced by police officers concerning encounters with individuals with mental illness include the risk of harm to themselves or others, the unpredictability of the situation, and the challenge of finding appropriate resources for individuals with mental illness. According to Soomro and Yanos (2018), exposure to traumatic events and the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can contribute to mental health stigma among police officers, making it more difficult for officers to respond effectively to individuals with mental illness.

Assessments for Police Interventions

Forensic psychologists play an important role in helping law enforcement agencies and police officers to intervene and de-escalate situations involving individuals with mental illness. Assessments conducted by forensic psychologists can help police officers better understand the individual’s mental state and determine the most appropriate response. The Joint Committee on Police Psychology Competencies (Dempsey et al., 2019) has identified four general proficiency domains: the assessment, the intervention, the operational, and the consulting domain.

Scenario

In the scenario involving Officer Smith, Maggie Hendriks was working with Officer Smith to enhance his performance by providing him with the necessary training and resources to effectively and appropriately deal with individuals with mental illness. Maggie Hendriks, a trained forensic psychologist, worked with Officer Smith as a consultant to help him improve his performance. As a consultant, Maggie was tasked with providing Officer Smith with the necessary knowledge, skills, and resources to deal with individuals with mental illness effectively and appropriately. According to Seo et al. (2020), the consulting domain of the Joint Committee on Police Psychology Competencies involves providing police officers with training, guidance, and support to help them improve their performance when dealing with individuals with mental illness.

Maggie’s role in this scenario was to help Officer Smith understand the complexities of dealing with individuals with mental illness and to provide him with the necessary skills and resources to manage these encounters effectively. This involved conducting assessments to understand Officer Smith’s strengths and weaknesses when dealing with individuals with mental illness and providing him with tailored training and resources to help him improve in these areas.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the role of law enforcement agencies and the police when dealing with individuals with mental illness is crucial. These agencies and officers are responsible for assessing the situation, intervening, providing support, and connecting individuals with mental illness with appropriate resources. Encounters between police officers and individuals with mental illness can be challenging and stressful for both parties. Officers must have the necessary training and resources to respond effectively and appropriately. Forensic psychologists play a crucial role in helping law enforcement agencies and police officers to intervene and de-escalate situations involving individuals with mental illness. The Joint Committee on Police Psychology Competencies has identified four general domains of proficiency that are important for effective and appropriate responses.

References

Dempsey, C., Quanbeck, C., Bush, C., & Kruger, K. (2019). Decriminalizing mental illness: Specialized policing responses. CNS Spectrums, 25(2), 181–195. Web.

Seo, C., Kim, B., & Kruis, N. E. (2020). A Meta-Analysis of police response models for handling people with mental illnesses: Cross-Country evidence on the effectiveness. International Criminal Justice Review, 31(2), 182–202. Web.

Soomro, S., & Yanos, P. T. (2018). Predictors of mental health stigma among police officers: The role of trauma and PTSD. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, 34(2), 175–183. Web.

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