In over 2,700 communities nationwide, Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training programs create connections between law enforcement, mental health providers, hospital emergency services, and individuals with mental illness and their families. Through collaborative community partnerships and intensive training, CIT improves communication, identifies mental health resources for those in crisis, and ensures officer and community safety.

CIT training is a comprehensive, five-day curriculum designed to help you recognize and understand signs of mental illness, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and anxiety disorders, and also associated illnesses, such as dementia and developmental and cognitive disorders. It is a proven system of effective management of psychiatric crisis situations that emphasizes safety for officers and those in crisis.

The techniques taught in this course are applicable to nearly any type of crisis situation, whether the mental health of an involved party is a factor or not. Although not the concentration of this course, the techniques taught have been effectively used in family disputes, neighbor disputes, and drug and/or alcohol dependency incidents, in addition to psychiatric crisis situations.

In the course, officers will learn:

• Options for facilitating de-escalation of mental health consumers in crisis

• Resources available to mental health consumers and their families in our area

• Techniques for preserving officer safety while engaging persons in crisis

• How regular use of this program reduces the potential for crisis and/or injury for the officer, the mental health consumer, and others

The training is much more than classroom presentations. It includes ride-alongs, role-playing, and opportunities for direct interaction with mental health consumers and their families.

Learn more about CIT with detailed info available on the NAMI Wisconsin website.