An Introduction to the June 2010 IACP Report

National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery News Release  July 13, 2010

In May 2009, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), in partnership with the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the JEHT Foundation, the National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health, and the National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery (NCMHR, formerly the National Coalition of Mental Health Consumer/Survivor Organizations) designed and sponsored “Building Safer Communities: Improving Police Response to Persons with Mental Illness,” a two-day summit bringing together over 100 leaders from mental health advocacy and law enforcement communities across the U.S. 

Keynote presentations at the summit were given by Sam Cochran, developer of Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) for law enforcement, and NCMHR Steering Committee member Daniel B. Fisher, who spoke about Emotional CPR (eCPR), a public health education program developed by NCMHR and designed to teach people to assist others through emotional crisis. Both Cochran and Fisher discussed the critical importance of heart-to-heart communication, especially when interacting with someone in emotional crisis. NCMHR Director Lauren Spiro helped to plan the summit and participated in a panel discussion about the challenges and opportunities associated with collaboration. 

The summit report highlights the importance of focusing on recovery rather than symptom management. Key recommendations include: avoiding the use of restraint and other control mechanisms unless absolutely necessary for public safety; emphasizing involvement of consumers, family members, and other advocates in Crisis Intervention Training and related training; and promoting interagency collaboration to ensure community integration of persons with mental health issues. The report describes “grass-roots, peer-run programs led by and for people in recovery” as “an important part of the continuum of services that should be offered to persons with mental illness who come into contact with law enforcement.” Examples of consumer-run organizations are provided. To read the summit report, click here.