JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Mental health crises are becoming an increasingly common part of law enforcement work, and officers are now receiving specialized training to handle those moments with care.
Melissa Camp, a licensed professional counselor (LPC) and executive director of Behavioral Health Services at HCA Florida Memorial Hospital, has spent years working alongside police agencies from South Carolina to Jacksonville, preparing officers for the realities of responding to behavioral health emergencies.
“Law enforcement are called to serve our communities in so many different ways,” Camp said.
One growing tool in the field is Crisis Intervention Team, or CIT, training — a program designed to educate officers on how to recognize and respond to mental health crises.
“There is a lot of education about different disorders, how they present, also some medical conditions that might present similarly to a mental health crisis,” Camp said.
Across the country, police agencies and mental health professionals have partnered through what are known as co-responder programs — where officers and clinicians respond together to 911 calls involving behavioral health, substance use or psychiatric situations.
Camp says the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office uses the model as part of its daily operations.
A high-profile example came in April, when JSO officer Antonio Richardson talked a young man out of jumping from the Dames Point Bridge, a moment that drew national attention. Camp said the officer did an “exceptional job.”
“A huge part of what he did was connect with that individual and say, ‘Hey, I’m here,’” she said.
Camp says one of the most important de-escalation techniques taught in CIT training is slowing the situation down, giving everyone involved time to breathe, relax and, most importantly, listen.
Asking the right questions also matters.
While asking someone “Are you OK?” is a reasonable instinct, Camp says a more open-ended approach tends to be more effective.
“Finding a way to open it up and say, ‘How have you been doing lately?’ To where that person gets like, ‘Hey, I actually want an answer from you,’” Camp said.
When it comes to getting people the help they need, Camp says treatment options vary widely. Inpatient and outpatient care can both be beneficial depending on the individual’s situation — ranging from therapy for depression or anxiety to more intensive programs.
“We’ve got an intensive outpatient program, a partial hospitalization program where the person comes for three to four hours a day for three to five days a week,” Camp said.
Camp says if there are any doubts or concerns about yourself, a family member or a friend, the best first step is making a call.
The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week by call or text.
Other available resources:
You can also find a list of local suicide prevention resources at this link.