CRIT Module 4

Understanding Mental Health Conditions & Mental Illnesses

Purpose

This module introduces participants to information on mental health conditions and mental illnesses and increases participants’ understanding of mood disorders, psychotic disorders, and anxiety disorders, as well as their signs and symptoms. Mental health disorders specific to children and youth and their associated symptoms and behaviors are also presented in this module. The role of medication in the treatment of people living with mental illnesses is discussed.

Instructor

This module should be taught by a mental health subject matter expert from your community, with the presence of law enforcement as a co-trainer. If questions arise that should be answered by law enforcement, particularly questions on how the information presented relates to law enforcement roles and responsibilities in your community, it will be important that a law enforcement co-trainer is there. For the section focused on children and youth, it is helpful to have a trainer with expertise in this area to be present.

Time 160 minutes

Learning Objectives

Upon completing this module, participants should be able to: ​

1. Define mood disorders, psychotic disorders, and anxiety disorders in adults, and impulse control and disruptive disorders in children and youth;

2. Describe some signs, symptoms, and behaviors you may see in people living with the above disorders;

3. Identify some strategies to use when responding to a person living with these disorders; and

4. Describe the role of medication in the treatment of mental illnesses and medication-related considerations for law enforcement.

Materials

Trainer’s Guide

4. Understanding Mental Health Conditions and Mental Illnesses.pdf

Download PDF • 2.47MB

PowerPoint Presentation

4. Understanding Mental Health Conditions and Mental Illnesses.pptx

Download PPTX • 8.26MB

Handouts

4. Understanding MH and MI_Hearing Voices Drawing Activity.pdf

Download PDF • 156KB

4. Understanding MH and MI_Mental Health Crisis Case Scenarios.pdf

Download PDF • 201KB

Additional Resources

• IACP/OJJDP – The Effects of Adolescent Development on Policing

• IACP/Yale Medicine Child Study Center/OJJDP – Enhancing Police Responses to Children Exposed to Violence: A Toolkit for Law Enforcement

CRIT Module 5

Substance Use Disorders

Purpose

This module will introduce participants to substance use disorders and their signs and symptoms and discuss effective approaches for intervening with those under the influence of substances.

Instructor

This module should be taught by a substance use treatment expert with a law enforcement co-instructor from your community. It is also helpful to include a co-trainer with lived experience with substance use.

Time 80 minutes

Learning Objectives

Upon completing this module, participants should be able to: ​

1. Define substance use disorders;

2. Describe behaviors associated with these disorders;

3. Discuss the extent that individuals with mental health conditions and developmental disabilities also have substance use disorders; and

4. Discuss effective approaches to intervening with individuals under the influence of substances.

Materials

Trainer’s Guide

5. Substance Use Disorders.pdf

Download PDF • 2.31MB

PowerPoint Presentation

5. Substance Use Disorders.pptx

Download PPTX • 8.78MB

CRIT Module 6

Trauma & Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Purpose

This module provides a greater understanding of trauma, the adverse effects that traumatic stress can have on a person, and how traumatic stress can manifest differently in different people. Specific emphasis will be given to understanding Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), its signs and symptoms, as well as intervention strategies for responding when someone experiencing traumatic stress or someone with PTSD may be experiencing a crisis.

Instructor

This module should be taught by a subject matter expert along with support from a law enforcement co-instructor who has experience in crisis response. The subject matter expert should have a good understanding of how trauma and traumatic stress can affect various populations, including those with behavioral health conditions and IDD.

Time 65 minutes

Learning Objectives

Upon completing this module, participants should be able to: ​

1. Define trauma;

2. Describe the prevalence of trauma;

3. Explain the adverse effects traumatic stress can have on a person in the short- and long-term;

4. Define PTSD;

5. Describe traumatic stress reactions/symptoms and how they may appear to an officer on-scene; and

6. Describe approaches that law enforcement officers can use when interacting with someone demonstrating traumatic stress symptoms.

Materials

Trainer’s Guide

6. Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.pdf

Download PDF • 1.65MB

PowerPoint Presentation

6. Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.pptx

Download PPTX • 3.61MB