Article archive / September 2017
Originally published: . Volume 8, No. 9. Source pages: 6.
One Mind Symposium Held August 23 in BR
One Mind Symposium: A Response to Persons Affected by Mental Illness, sponsored by International Association of Police Chiefs (IAPC), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA-GAIN), and the Capital Region Mental Health Team (CRMH Team) was held Wednesday, August 23rd, at the Renaissance Hotel in Baton Rouge. Over 100 federal, state, and local law enforcement officers, judicial system professionals, mental health professionals, and elected officials were in attendance.
The One Mind Symposium began with opening remarks from State Representative Valarie Hodges, Governor John Bel Edwards, Senator Bill Cassidy, Mayor Sharon Broome, and Chief Louis Dekmar, IAPC's Ascending President. In his remarks, Dekmar emphasized how the law enforcement officers can use calming techniques and then de-escalation techniques, to manage a situation where an individual is aggravated and agitated, and by employing these techniques de-escalate the situation.
The CRMH Team was chosen as hosts from teams all across the U.S., and worked with IAPC and SAMSHA-GAIN to host this interactive symposium. The CRMH Team includes team leader Commander Lawrence E. Callender, HSITFO, Dr. James Hussey from the Assistant Secretary Office of Behavioral Health of the Louisiana Department of Health, Thomas Jarlock from DHH, SSgt Patrick Bedwell from the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office, and State Rep. Valarie Hodges. The afternoon sessions were focused on various programs and techniques currently being implemented and resources available around Louisiana. Point Coupee Sheriff Bud Torres shared Best Practices procedures he has implemented and the successes that he had in the Point Coupee Sheriff's Office. EBRP Coroner, Dr. Beau Clark, gave an overview of what is happening in EBRP regarding persons suffering mental illness and substance abuse. Sheriff Randy Smith and Maj. Wharton Muller with St. Tammy Sheriff's Office and Ex. Dir. Richard Cramer, Florida Parishes Human Services Authority, shared Crisis Intervention Techniques (CIT) that the St. Tammy Sheriff's Office has implemented. Ex. Dir., Dr. Jan Kasofsy, and Dir. of Training and Emergency Preparedness, John Nosacka, with Capital Area Human Services (CASA) presented statistics and gave information services in the capital region.
A course of Mental Health First Aid for law enforcement on Thursday, August 24th provided an overview of mental health issues, warning signs and de-escalation tactics, geared toward first responders and law enforcement officers.
Rep. Hodges said, “This symposium, along with the Mental Health First Aid course, has given law enforcement and government officials the opportunity to come together with behavioral health professionals to discuss the best possible ways of handling mental health issues that may arise. We could also save millions of dollars by incorporating Best Practices instead of incarcerating non-violent offenders. […],” she said.
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