COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Dozens of first responders gathered at the Columbus Police Academy for additional training aimed at helping them better respond to mental health crises and substance abuse situations in the community.
WSYX
Nearly 100 people took part in an eight-hour session with representatives from Columbus police and fire, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, and several police departments including Dublin and Hilliard.
Columbus Police Lt. Michael Voorhis said the training helps responders understand what they may encounter when they arrive at a mental health call.
ABC 6 asked what would responses be like if they did not receive the training.
Voorhis said, “It’s very difficult for them, you don’t have the knowledge, you don’t know what you are walking into.”
Columbus police said there were more than 23,000 calls for mental health service in Columbus last year.
Karley Tennant, with the Franklin County ADMH Board, said recognizing what is happening at a scene can change how first responders handle the situation. “When you can recognize what’s going on at a scene, you then can open your options for appropriate responses,” Tennant said.
Voorhis said he has seen changes over time in how calls are handled. “As I watched over the years, we are getting more calls for transports,” he said, “but a lot less transports to jail.”
Wednesday’s session provided advanced, in-depth instruction for first responders who have already completed an initial 40-hour Crisis Intervention Team training course.
In Franklin County, more than 3,000 people have been certified after going through the 40 hours of instruction.
“I got to these runs and I can say, oh my gosh, I know what’s going on,” Voorhis said. “I wish I had this 20 years ago.”
The Crisis Intervention Team training is held five times a year at the Columbus Police Academy on the West Side.