Course Details

Course TitleImproving Police Officer Interactions with Individuals Suffering from Mental Illness
Date 8/8/2025
ProviderTPN.health
Phone 
Email 
Website https://app.tpn.health/education/improving-police-officer-interactions-with-individuals-suffering--3432ff3f?utm_campaign=15517054-APA%20Division%2018%3A%20Psychologists%20in%20Public%20Service&utm_source=apa_18_comarketing_improvingpoliceofficerinteractio
LocationWebinar
Credit Hours1
Instructor(s)Amy Weisman, Ph.D.
Method of InstructionVirtual (Synchronous/Live)
Approving AgencyAPA
Course Syllabus

Course Description

Police-induced deaths disproportionately affect individuals with severe mental illness (SMI), eroding trust in law enforcement and institutions and discouraging mental health care access. This presentation explores findings from a mixed-methods study on enhancing safety in police interactions with individuals with SMI. It highlights practical strategies to improve officer training, foster trust, and ensure compassionate crisis response. Additionally, tailored interventions to support officers' mental health and equip them to manage high-risk situations will be discussed. By implementing these approaches, we can promote safer, more effective interactions and improve outcomes for both officers and individuals with SMI.

Course Objectives

Identify at least three strategies that could help officers improve interactions with people with SMI and reduce the likelihood that violence will occur.

Describe a potential psychological intervention for police officers that could improve their mental health and teach them more effective ways of interacting with people with SMI.

Summarize the challenges police officers face and how their own mental health influences their interactions with individuals with serious mental illness.

The educational goal of this workshop is for participants to gain practical insights into how police interactions with individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) can be made safer through improved officer training and trust-building strategies. They will learn effective approaches for crisis response and understand the importance of supporting officers' mental health to foster more compassionate and impactful engagement.