This study evaluated whether a mental health crisis response training course improved the knowledge, confidence, and attitudes of police officers, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, and public health staff who may encounter people experiencing mental health or substance use crises.
Participants attended a four-hour training course covering mental health laws, recognition and assessment of behavioral emergencies, crisis identification, the escalation of violent behavior, communication, and de-escalation techniques. Participants voluntarily completed an online questionnaire immediately before and after the course.
The study compared participants' responses before and after training to determine whether the course improved their understanding of mental health crises, confidence in responding to these situations, and attitudes toward people with mental health conditions or substance use problems.