MPD News

Responding to People with Mental Illness:

As a police officer, you are aware that dealing with mentally ill individuals is increasing in prevalence. If there is a lack of funding in your area, there will likely be an increase in the number of people in your community who have little to no access to adequate mental health care. To fully understand how mental illness affects the individual and the community, we need to look at our current situation and historical factors. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of the most common mental illnesses will increase your knowledge base, provide you with an understanding of the challenges people with mental illness face, and allow you to address the needs of your community actively. Through this knowledge and understanding, you will gain the confidence to implement safer interactions for yourself and for individuals suffering from mental illness.