MANDEVILLE, Manchester — More than 60 members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) based in the south-central section of the island have benefited from training and certification in responding to crisis situations involving people with mental health challenges.

Regional psychiatrist at Southern Regional Health Authority (SRHA) Dr Janique Baldwin-Miller told the Jamaica Observer that the training and certification involved cops from the three parishes in the region — Manchester, Clarendon and St Elizabeth.

“Last year we started a series of training, a collaboration between the JCF and the Southern Regional Health Authority. The training involves helping [cops] to manage crisis situations with the collaboration of a mental health team and on their own,” Baldwin-Miller said on Wednesday during an interview at SRHA’s biannual stakeholder meeting in Mandeville.

She pointed out that the law gives members of the JCF the power to act in instances when people are facing mental health challenges.

”So even if they are having suicidal ideations or thoughts, if they are psychotic, a harm to themselves or others, the Mental Health Act empowers [the police] to assist these individuals… and de-escalate [situations] through crisis intervention,” added Baldwin-Miller as she pointed out that the training also focused on moving the mental health patient to a safe space where they are not a danger to themselves or others.

During Wednesday’s stakeholders’ meeting in Mandeville, the leadership of the JCF’s Area Three, divisional commanders in the three parishes, and health-care leaders discussed challenges and options to better respond to cases of mental health patients needing the intervention of the authorities.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Christopher Phillips, who heads the JCF’s Area Three, welcomed the continued partnership between SRHA and the police.

“I am happy that we are having this engagement because it is something that we want to increase this year — the stakeholder engagement, the partnership, the community activities. And I encourage that we discuss the whole issue of mental health. I also encourage that we look seriously at getting into the communities for that kind of education,” said Phillips.

In January Phillips was transferred from the police’s Area Five to Area Three. He also previously served as commander in St Catherine South where he said community education was integrated into the police’s social outreach.

“We had to do that in [St Catherine] South because we realised that a lot of the community members weren’t responding well when those issues came up. So it is not just about training the police, but that public education [is needed as wel] — I know it is happening but we want to capitalise more on those opportunities,” he said.

“We are looking forward to this partnership and we are looking to strengthen this partnership going forward. We made that promise to the communities and to Jamaica. The Commissioner [of Police Dr Kevin Blake] is encouraging us to strengthen our people, our bonds, and strengthen Jamaica. That is going to require work. And internally, we are looking to strengthen our systems and abilities to respond to the various needs of the different communities and stakeholders,” added Phillips.

Regional psychiatrist at Southern Regional Health Authority (SRHA) Dr Janique Baldwin-Miller speaking with the Jamaica Observer on Wednesday in Mandeville.  (Photo: Kasey Williams)