La Grande Police holds Mental Health Training to address crisis surge
By Joe Hathaway on Monday, March 25th, 2024 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
LA GRANDE — The La Grande Police Department (LGPD) has witnessed a staggering increase in responding to individuals experiencing mental health crises, with rates surging by over 500% in recent years and over 4000% in the last two decades. In response to this pressing challenge, the LGPD has reaffirmed its commitment to crisis intervention by hosting a Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) course for its officers.
“Our paramount objective is to resolve crises in a manner that ensures the safety of all individuals involved,” stated Lieutenant Jason Hays of the La Grande Police Department. “We respond to people in crisis in a supportive way, learning to be proactive in listening and acting as a conduit between the person in crisis and mental health professionals.”
The MHFA training equips officers with the necessary skills to identify signs of mental illness and employ various techniques, response options, and resources to de-escalate situations effectively. Lieutenant Hays elaborated on the approach, citing the ALGEE acronym: A-Approach, assess for risk of suicide or harm. L-Listen non judgmentally. G-Give reassurance and information. E-Encourage appropriate professional help. E-Encourage self-help and other support strategies.
“This training is just one component of our comprehensive approach to crisis intervention,” Lieutenant Hays emphasized. “Our officers undergo a range of training programs to enhance their ability to effectively respond to diverse situations.”
Acknowledging the severity of the mental health crisis, Lieutenant Hays stressed the importance of collaboration with key stakeholders including the Center for Human Development, Grande Ronde Hospital, Union County District Attorney, and the Union County Jail. “This is very difficult because in most circumstances a lot of the people in crisis we deal with do not want to voluntarily engage in services,”said Lt. Hays. “Oregon State Legislation has made it very difficult for our mental health and medical professionals to involuntarily place someone into a psychiatric center to get the necessary treatment needed.”
Despite challenges, such as legislative limitations on involuntary placement into psychiatric centers, the LGPD remains committed to improving its response to mental health crises.
“Everyone involved, including us at the PD, is overburdened by the mental health crisis we are experiencing in Union County,” Lieutenant Hays added.
