Hays County Crisis Team Innovates with Bucket Truck for Elevated Rescue Training in Mental Health Crises

The Crisis Negotiation Team in Hays County has improved how they support people going through mental health crises. For the first time, they worked with the local fire department to use a bucket truck during a recent training exercise. According to FOX 7 Austin, this new precaution is intended to mimic real-life scenarios in which people may be discovered in lofty places. During the training, Officer Joyce Bender played the role of Susie, a character who was going through a difficult time following a personal discovery. “She discovered the girlfriend with another woman when she entered the house, so she fled,” Bender told FOX 7 Austin.

By using the bucket truck, officers were able to practice how close they may approach someone who was in difficulty and what equipment might be needed in such circumstances. Bender acknowledged that a person experiencing a mental health crisis could feel as though their entire world is in chaos, explaining that their job is to “help to slow things down,” according to Yahoo News.

The training’s negotiators practiced de-escalation and active listening skills, giving the person experiencing a crisis space to freely express their feelings. Bender said in a statement that Yahoo News was able to record, “We do our active listening skills, de-escalation, we take time with the person and give them time to vent and yell.” These are essential components of rapport-building, which is a critical first step in handling such circumstances in a kind and efficient manner.

Every month, the Hays County team hosts a variety of training programs covering various subjects linked to mental health treatments and crisis negotiation. They stress how crucial it is to get help if someone is experiencing mental health issues, and they suggest that people contact or text 988 or dial 911 if they need assistance. “Please call out for help,” Bender was advised in the FOX 7 Austin and Yahoo News piece.

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