The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) partnered with Penn State Health to train Lackawanna College Police Academy (LCPA) cadets on how to effectively manage and de-escalate mental health emergencies safely.
The Keystone Model of Crisis Management workshop, developed in partnership by Penn State Health and the PSP Bureau of Training and Education, combines classroom instruction with interactive lessons to teach techniques that have proven successful in de-escalating crises. During the program, state police instructors, medical professionals, and behavioral health experts guided LCPA cadets through strategies to help them identify, respond to, and resolve various mental health situations using safety, skill, and compassion.
“Our crisis training program provides law enforcement with crucial skills and knowledge to respond more effectively to emergencies, especially those involving individuals with mental health challenges,” said Lieutenant Alan Zulick, Commander, Use of Force Section of the Pennsylvania State Police. “Our workshop is a critical tool that provides participants with strategies to recognize different behavioral conditions, sharpen their decision-making, and de-escalate situations without risking harm to them or the person they’re called to help.”
Standardized patients from Penn State College of Medicine’s Clinical Simulation Center led scenario-based exercises, allowing cadets to get hands-on experience with real-life situations. Role-players interacted with cadets to simulate the scenarios, which taught valuable skills to aid in interactions with individuals with autism, psychosis, bipolar disorder, and depression with suicidal thoughts. After each exercise, licensed medical experts provided cadets with feedback on their performance and offered ways to improve their responses.
“Through collaboration between behavioral health and law enforcement, the workshop equips participants with practical skills to recognize and respond to mental health crises with confidence and compassion – emphasizing thoughtful communication, appropriate intervention and connection to needed behavioral health resources,” said Stephanie Harvison, lead clinical counselor, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.
The PSP uses the Keystone Model of Crisis Management workshop to reinforce the mental health training cadets already receive as part of their academic curriculum. The program is offered to law enforcement academies and agencies across the Commonwealth.
