Bipolar Today

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WBEZ in Chicago had a very interesting story today about how the strategies of the Crisis Intervention Team in Chicago have been changing with respect to mental illness. Much of this change has come through the efforts of a single police officer, Julie Joyce. From her thirteen years on the force and from her experience of having a son with bipolar disorder and ADHD, she realized that the past protocols for dealing with crisis situations involving people with mental illness both were not working and were distressing both for the mentally ill and their families. Now, she trains members of the Crisis Intervention Team in how to deal with the mentally ill empathetically, and the Chicago Police Department has been very positive about her efforts.

Commentary

Julie Joyce is something of a perfect storm, combining solid experience in the field of crisis intervention with the experience of a parent with a mentally ill child. This combination has led to what can only be described as phenomenal changes in the way that the mentally ill are treated in crisis situations over the course of only a few short years. What is very interesting is just how positive the CIT has been in the accepting of her changes. She brings her son sometimes when training, to help other police officers understand situations better, and the CIT has really appreciated it. What this shows is that more interactive and empathetic approaches to dealing with crisis situations may be well received in other police departments, provided that the training is available.

Related posts:

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2. It’s NAMI Mental Illness Awareness Week
3. Toronto Police Ask For Access To Tasers
4. Indian Police Official Sent to Mental Institution For Alleging Corruption
5. Misuse of Mental Illness Terms: BBC