KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Across Tennessee, first responders are taking a new approach to calls that emphasizes considering a person's mental health. Many are learning crisis intervention techniques to help when they respond to calls.
First responders can range from emergency medical services to police officers, from firefighters to school resource officers. In Knox County, James Krohne works with children at Green Magnet Academy as an SRO.
"First responders — we just want to help people," he said. "First response is to not overreact. To step back, look at the situation and say, 'Okay, what is this person trying to communicate to me?' Whether it's verbally or through their actions, or even just through their expressions."
His job ranges from welcoming students off the school bus when they arrive at school to responding to safety concerns. He served in the military for around 28 years, and now his career is centered on being there for people when they need help.
"The person who's in crisis needs that sense of safety. The person who's in crisis needs that sense of safety, that is going to result in a positive outcome for them," he said.
Many people in fields similar to Krohne's are getting trained in crisis intervention. The training shows first responders how they can approach calls involving someone with a mental health emergency.
"If you have someone who is in a hurry, who is pressing them for answers when they, for example, might be hearing voices. It takes us, takes them, a minute to respond," said Candace Allen, Vice President of CIT program.
Crisis intervention training focuses on showing first responders how to de-escalate situations and how to identify substance use disorders or other kinds of behavioral challenges. The goal of the training is to improve the outcome of a mental crisis.
"We need to get them started into treatment, not into jails," said Allen.