The best part about the Oscars of Mental Health

Today I attended the MHA (mental health association) Mental Health Community Service Award Luncheon, which was described as "The Oscars of Mental Health". Nominated candidates were honored for their contributions to mental health in Orange County (Currently, I am working in Orange County even though I live within Los Angeles County. I must say working in Orange County sometimes feels like I'm in a different world). The Media Champion Award was presented to George Butts, producer of the A&E "Hoarders" television series.

What thrilled me more than the huge strawberries wrapped in white and dark chocolate tuxedos, more than the pleasant conversations with fellow mental health workers was the sight of a few police officers in the audience. Why? Because as a psychiatric social worker I take great issue with the way so many police officers handle mentally ill individuals.

I can't tell you how many occasions in which I hear of a police officer who presses charges against a violent individual who happens to be violent due to his or her mental illness, or officers who verbally abuse mentally individuals.

Stigma against the mentally ill are not uncommon, however stigma can be quite dangerous especially when inside the minds of individuals with guns and badges. Authority and lack of knowledge is a frightening combination.

Many police officers are not trained to handle mentally ill individuals. This is a travesty as there is a large population of severely mentally ill individuals whom end up transient. In my profession re-entry to the hospital is not uncommon. It is often a painful cycle. A patient can make a remarkable recovery in the hospital and have goals for themselves to succeed once discharged. Unfortunately many of them stop taking their medications at some point, once again become psychotic and then re-enter the hospital. A patient re-enters once they are placed on a "5150" which is a code that hospitalizes a person against their will often due to a violent event in which the person attempts to harm themselves or others.

Some individuals are so delusional or depressed that they attempt to die by "suicide by cop" in which they provoke an officer in attempts to have that officer shoot him or her.

By all means law enforcement need to protect themselves and other civilians however officers need to be educated so as to minimize harm. While some programs have been set into motion which will heighten awareness. Some methods are as simple as speaking softly, rather than shouting commands, repeating phrases or holding hands palms up instead of holding a gun or badge.

If law enforcement truly wishes to "serve and protect" this motto must be inclusive of all citizens. I greatly appreciate efforts made by the police department in building a linkages with the mental health association.