LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) - First responders, mental health providers, and advocacy group members brushing up on their skills on Friday.
They're all crucial parts of the crisis intervention team for Allen, Auglaize and Hardin Counties. The goal is to train these first responders to deal with all types of calls dealing with a mental health crisis. Friday's class included common scenarios team members encounter on domestic violence calls.
The crisis team is designed to de-escalate the situation and follow the case from court to probation and mental health follow-up.
The crisis team is designed to de-escalate the situation and follow the case from court to probation and mental health follow-up.
"Folks sometimes just need a little helping hand to go through their struggles, and we understand that, and that's one of the things we're trying to do also, is we're introducing humanity to these calls," said Daniel Harmon, crisis intervention team coordinator. "It's a person first - their mental health issues are secondary, but we're trying to get them the help that they need."
The classes meet on a regular basis and also cover everything from knowing what certain medications do to drug courts and boosting communication between agencies.
