UPMC Western Behavioral Health at Safe Harbor hosted a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training this week at the Mercyhurst University municipal police training academy in North East.
The training brings together professionals from law enforcement, corrections, probation, and parole, all of whom often encounter individuals experiencing behavioral health crises in the course of their work.
The program is designed to help first responders become more trauma-informed in their approach, equipping them with tools to better understand and safely respond to mental health emergencies. The initiative marks the first training of its kind in Erie County.
Crisis Intervention Team programs are widely recognized for strengthening community responses to behavioral health situations. By improving communication and de-escalation techniques, CIT training aims to reduce the risk of harm and lead to safer outcomes for both first responders and those in crisis.
Officials emphasized that collaboration between mental health professionals and public safety agencies is a key component of the program’s success. This collaboration allows communities to build a more effective and compassionate system for handling mental health emergencies.