NAMI’s Continued Role in Facilitating Effective Behavioral Health Crisis Training for Michigan Emergency Responders

First established in 2021, the Behavioral Health Emergency Partnership (BHEP) is a collaborative, state-wide effort designed to enhance emergency responders’ ability to safely and equitably respond to mental and behavioral health crises. The BHEP program, which is funded by the State of Michigan’s Mental Health Diversion Council, engages a variety of emergency responders who work in our communities, including law enforcement, corrections officers, and emergency medical technicians (EMTs). This program is the training component of the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) model, a broader effort to foster partnerships between community members, mental health addiction professionals, and law enforcement to improve responses to mental health crises. Prior research has linked CIT programs to improvements in officer de-escalation skills and decreases in use of force, among other positive outcomes. 

The training is separated into three main trainings: online and self-paced, classroom-based, and scenario-based. The online component establishes a foundation in major concepts covered in the training (e.g., what are the different behavioral health disorders?), which is followed by the classroom-based training where professionals learn more about these concepts in a collaborative setting. Finally, emergency responders engage in live role-playing scenarios that are facilitated by emergency responders. Overall, topics covered in this training include an overview of mental and behavioral health disorders, state mental health policy, de-escalation and trauma-informed response, and mental health diversion.

Since its inception, NAMI Washtenaw County (NAMI-WC) has played an integral role in the training program by representing the voices of people living with mental illness and their families. In 2021, NAMI WC spearheaded this effort by assisting in the piloting of the program. In the pilot trainings, NAMI-WC volunteers lead multiple panel discussions with police officers where they shared their experiences as someone who lives or supports someone with mental illness. During the two-day pilot, NAMI-WC volunteers and leadership attended the sessions and provided valuable feedback to the BHEP training manager. You can read more about NAMI’s role in the BHEP training pilots here. Following the successful pilot training, the BHEP program was endorsed by the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES), meaning that it is officially integrated into the training curriculum for police officers and first responders in Michigan.

Today, NAMI-WC volunteers continue to provide meaningful support and insight to the BHEP training program by engaging in discussions with emergency responders, mainly cadets and police officers, on their lived experience with a mental health condition. Trainees are encouraged to ask questions and engage in the discussions to improve their understanding and empathy. In addition, NAMI-WC volunteers support the scenario-based trainings through role-playing. 

When talking with NAMI-WC volunteers who have shared their stories at these trainings, it is clear that this program represents an effort to humanize people who experience behavioral health crises, especially in situations with law enforcement. Many volunteers highlight the value of this program as a way to educate police officers on the diverse perspectives of those with mental illness, which can increase the capacity of law enforcement to make a more informed decision adequately and safely. Other folks emphasize that the program can strengthen partnerships and collaboration between community mental health, law enforcement, and individuals with mental illness. As Marcia Mullen, whose son is a police officer, emphasizes, this program can also be an opportunity to inform law enforcement about the importance of their own mental health, which can be at risk due to stress exposure on the job. 

While valuable for the community, it can also be a tough experience for volunteers, especially for volunteers of color due to the historical marginalization and violence that communities of color have faced. However, as volunteer Halo May emphasizes, it is important to note that these trainings show that there are cadets and police officers that are engaged, empathetic, and willing to learn more about the point of view of those living with mental illness. 

Going forward, NAMI-WC will continue to be involved in the BHEP program as a way to center those with lived experience throughout the training process. If you are interested in getting involved or learning more about the trainings, please contact Bob Nassauer at bobnassauer@aol.com.

Sources: Previous blog; Program resource; Wayne state resource