MPI AWARDED SUICIDE PREVENTION GRANT
The Municipal Police Institute, Inc. (MPI) has been
awarded a multi-year contract form the Massachusetts Department
of Public Health to help reduce the incidence of suicide
among public safety personnel and members of the public,
and to providing support services to survivors. The following
areas will be addressed:
1. Suicide assessment and intervention training,
2. Survivor groups and support services, and
3. Means reduction policies and training.
Police officers encounter potential suicide victims every
day. Officers need to be trained to identify those requiring
special attention. They need to learn appropriate intervention
techniques and referral options. Police officers are involved
in most attempted or completed suicides. Since more officers
die from suicide than work-related shootings, every officer
needs to learn what to do if he/she or a fellow officer is exhibiting
signs of depression or other suicidal tendencies.
Lastly, Chiefs are the licensing authority for firearms in this state.
They need similar training to help identify potential problems
and learn how to refuse, restrict or revoke licenses, as well as
to enforce trigger-lock laws.
MPI will develop an assessment instrument for the
police officer in the street and/or in cell room. We will offer
to work with the Massachusetts Municipal Police Training
Committee to develop curriculum and lesson plans for Suicide
Prevention Training for all police officers. We will train
chiefs on how to properly assess and respond to potential
suicidal persons during or following licensing for firearms.
From MCOPA News, June, 2008
http://www.masschiefs.org/documents/June 2008 Newsletter.pdf
The Municipal Police Institute, Inc. (MPI) has been
awarded a multi-year contract form the Massachusetts Department
of Public Health to help reduce the incidence of suicide
among public safety personnel and members of the public,
and to providing support services to survivors. The following
areas will be addressed:
1. Suicide assessment and intervention training,
2. Survivor groups and support services, and
3. Means reduction policies and training.
Police officers encounter potential suicide victims every
day. Officers need to be trained to identify those requiring
special attention. They need to learn appropriate intervention
techniques and referral options. Police officers are involved
in most attempted or completed suicides. Since more officers
die from suicide than work-related shootings, every officer
needs to learn what to do if he/she or a fellow officer is exhibiting
signs of depression or other suicidal tendencies.
Lastly, Chiefs are the licensing authority for firearms in this state.
They need similar training to help identify potential problems
and learn how to refuse, restrict or revoke licenses, as well as
to enforce trigger-lock laws.
MPI will develop an assessment instrument for the
police officer in the street and/or in cell room. We will offer
to work with the Massachusetts Municipal Police Training
Committee to develop curriculum and lesson plans for Suicide
Prevention Training for all police officers. We will train
chiefs on how to properly assess and respond to potential
suicidal persons during or following licensing for firearms.
From MCOPA News, June, 2008
http://www.masschiefs.org/documents/June 2008 Newsletter.pdf