GREENFIELD — The latest installment in a series of events to promote community mental health informed attendees on the latest efforts by schools, law enforcement and health care agencies.
More than 200 people attended the second annual Rise Above It meeting, held last week at Park Chapel Christian Church. The event was sponsored by Hancock Regional Hospital and Healthy365. The event combined a resource fair with a free dinner and a program featuring local stakeholders discussing what’s being done in Hancock County to address mental illness and drug abuse.
The resource fair included 26 booths featuring mental health representatives both in Hancock County and those that serve Hancock County residents but are located elsewhere, said Amanda Everidge, healthy community coordinator.
Half a dozen community stakeholders spoke about what they’re doing to encourage mental health in their various spheres, and others shared their personal challenges with mental illness.
Hancock County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Bridget Foy and Greenfield Police Department deputy chief Maj. Matt Holland shared their efforts through the Hancock County Crisis Intervention Team to help the county’s public safety officers learn ways to help people suffering from mental illness.
In March, 27 public safety officers from across the county underwent a 40-hour training session on crisis intervention for community members suffering from severe mental illness.
Throughout the training, they learned techniques to calm an intense situation and how to more effectively interact with someone who might be experiencing a mental health crisis that could make them a risk to themselves or others.
Historically, police officers have not had specialized training to deal with people with conditions such as autism, post-traumatic stress disorder or Alzheimer’s, Holland said in March.
Cumberland Police Department Chief Mike Crook also shared the efforts his department has spearheaded, teaching mental health first aid through the department’s own mental health crisis unit, a special investigative team dedicated to helping the most vulnerable members of the community.
The Cumberland Assertive Response and Engagement, or CARE, team consists of Cumberland police officers who work collaboratively with community partners to be a link between residents whose mental illnesses cause run-ins with local law enforcement and the mental health, addiction and social services that can help them.
Jim Bever, director of student services at Greenfield-Central schools, shared recent efforts to increase student access to mental health providers, including working with Hancock Health to employ a mental health counselor at the junior high and high schools.
Everidge and several other hospital employees, including hospice and social services director Jeannie Crowe and hospice chaplain Katherine Murray, shared their personal experiences and techniques for mindfulness, empathy and sympathy.
Though it was difficult to open up to the crowd of more than 200, Everidge said she feels it’s a necessity for the community to understand that mental illness can impact anyone.
“I want to empower people to know it’s OK and we’re here for you,” she said.
