Why First Responders Matter in Early Psychosis Intervention
First responders are frequently the first point of contact for youth experiencing acute psychotic symptoms. Their role is pivotal in creating a safe, compassionate, and effective pathway to care. Unfortunately, many of these young individuals may not yet be engaged in the mental health system when a crisis occurs.
To better understand and support these interactions, STEP Learning Collaborative staff participated in a 40-hour Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) alongside law enforcement. The training, facilitated by the Connecticut Alliance to Benefit Law Enforcement (CABLE), focused on best practices for responding to mental health crises, including psychosis.
The Role of CABLE in Transforming Crisis Response
For over 20 years, CABLE has been a leader in training Connecticut’s law enforcement and crisis clinicians. Their CIT model emphasizes:
- "Person-first" language to reduce stigma
- Understanding the complexity of mental health crises, especially psychosis
- The value of collaborative crisis response, including co-responder models where clinicians are embedded with police units
A prime example of this model is seen in Middletown, CT in which mental health clinicians from River Valley Services work directly with police to improve outcomes for individuals in crisis.