TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - May is mental health awareness month, and this week some area law enforcement officers are going through a program to learn more about those with mental illnesses.
The Crisis Intervention Team, or CIT training, is voluntary for area law enforcement officers, and is put on by NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
It teaches the officers how to detect and interact with someone who has a mental health issue.
Sgt. Donnie Jackson has worked for the Leon County Jail for 14 years and says he's seen more people come through with mental illnesses.
"One of the things I wanted to get out of this is how can we help to drive down the uses of forces in the jail, how do we communicate better, how do we slow it down for them, how do we learn to communicate in a way that's more effective, so that we can maybe get them the services they need," Jackson said.
Jackson and the others participating in the CIT training will graduate from the program Friday and will take their knowledge back to their respective agencies.
