Commentary: Police officers and persons with mental illness.
Silverstone et al. present a study outlining the success of a novel training program implemented in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, to train police officers to interact with persons who may have a psychiatric disorder. The training was well accepted by the participants and was novel in its use of professional actors to portray persons with mental illness across six model scenarios. I outline the need for such training and comment on certain aspects of this particular program, including overall design, usefulness, and limitations.
Department of Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, 3555 Harden Street Extension, Suite 301, Columbia, SC 29203. richard.frierson@uscmed.sc.edu.
Richard L
RL
Frierson
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D016495:Police / Q000193:education*