COLUMBIANA, Ala. — In a classroom at the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Training Center, deputies are learning important skills that don’t involve firearms. Instead, they are focused on handling mental health emergencies.
This week, they took part in Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Training. This program helps law enforcement manage situations involving mental health crises safely and effectively.
Zach Andrews, the Community Mental Health Liaison for Shelby County, emphasized the importance of this training. “CIT training is vital. It equips law enforcement with necessary tools and strategies for intense situations,” he explained. Andrews has been responding to mental health crises for over a year and led the deputies through this session.
“You often only hear about severe cases in the news,” Andrews said. “But mental health crises occur more frequently than people think.” He pointed out that many everyday incidents go unreported, highlighting the need for officers to be prepared.
Johnny Hollingsworth, CIT Director for NAMI Alabama, noted that this kind of training was rare when he started in policing 36 years ago. “If you’re dealing with someone who might jump off a bridge, you need specific techniques to calm them down,” he said.
Sheriff John Samaniego echoed the importance of CIT Training. He mentioned that it benefits not just deputies but also the residents who call 911. “Our officers are now equipped to tackle situations with the best possible outcomes,” he stated.
CIT-certified deputies aren’t just trained once; they engage in ongoing training each year to refine their skills.
In terms of mental health statistics, the National Alliance on Mental Illness reports that 1 in 5 adults experience mental illness yearly. Police encounters involving mental health can end tragically without proper training. Programs like CIT aim to reduce these incidents by fostering understanding and compassion among officers.
If you or someone you know is dealing with a mental health crisis, help is available anytime. You can reach out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988 or visiting 988lifeline.org to chat online.
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