Van Beek: Mental health in today’s world

There has been a significant rise in mental health issues, from depression to suicide, and it affects all ages and demographics. Given the long-term stress of the pandemic recovery, these conditions, in some ways, have been amplified. As resilient as we are, we have discovered that we have more needs than we previously acknowledged, and the journey has been a bit more complicated than anticipated.

On the surface, we seem to have recovered quite well. Yet internally, we are surprised to discover that there are lingering triggers that highlight our emotional vulnerabilities, with fears of health, connections, and even basic freedoms, surfacing. We’ve become increasingly sensitive to circumstances beyond our control, and sometimes react in surprising and uncommon ways. That sensitivity can cause an overreaction, which can spark extreme responses that may cause others to feel endangered, and even lead to unlawful behavior.

Which brings me to the role of law enforcement. Traditionally, we think of deputies and police as people who capture criminals. Increasingly, law enforcement has become the catch-all of any irregular activity in which people are fearful, whether the fear is actual or imagined. 911 has become the solution to any stressful situation, and if it is not an obvious medical emergency, we are the ones, by default, sent out to protect and defend. We are often heading into unknown situations, with only partial and potentially biased information about the circumstances.

People are in heightened emotional states at the time of the call, as we tend to be the last line of defense against the fear they are experiencing. They have usually exhausted everything within their power to remedy the situation and now want us to magically fix it so that they can return to feeling safe, secure, and normal.

When unlawful or unintended behavior is caused by non-obvious conditions, we must still respond in a manner that protects all involved, with training and instincts guiding our split-second decisions. Sometimes, we may see unusual behavior but the cause is not obvious.

If the behavior is irrational and unpredictable, we then call in professionals who can better identify the symptoms and determine if anyone is experiencing a mental health issue. They respond as soon as possible. While, the resulting activity may be illegal and we must certainly address those issues, our approach may need to be adapted to create more sustainable solutions. However, in doing so, we must also stop the threatening behavior to ensure the safety of everyone involved, including any threats of self-harm.

Upon arrival, we assess the safety of the environment as a whole and remove any existing or potential threats, focusing on the greatest possible outcome. We begin with strategies to de-escalate the situation and reduce emotional tensions through calm talk, to help restore a sense of safety and normalcy.

We also realize that we are seeing people at their highest stress points, which can spark all sorts of physical and psychological responses. The intensity of the moment can cause a person’s perspective to become distorted due to emotional state, so we must disrupt the escalation before actions erupt that may cause irreparable harm.

If initial strategies aren’t remedying the situation, including those of paramedics, crisis technicians, or family/friend interventions, then physical restraint becomes our last option, for the safety of everyone. It is also the most dangerous procedure to law enforcement, as it is usually met with varying degrees of resistance. Yet, we have a public and ethical obligation to secure the situation. In analyzing the behavior of those involved, we are also aware that traumatic incidents may impact rationality and cause reactions that can appear unstable, even when no prior mental health issues exist.

Confinement can escalate emotions and impact rationality. If the subject has been removed and is in the stability of the detention center, we secure as much information as possible about the person’s mental and physical health, taking into consideration that they may still be in an irrational state of mind. The details of that assessment help determine subsequent procedures. However, if the subject is substance-impaired, then all we have in determining the best subsequent options are medical screening and behavioral monitoring.

We begin with a base of treating everyone with respect and dignity. We take seriously the commitment of “innocent until proven guilty” while maintaining the high priority of protecting all involved. Our responsibility is not judgment; it is to caretake the accused and assure the safety of the victim and the community.

We are not a hospital and have limited resources to address complex medical or mental health issues. We have aligned with professionals in those areas, for more detailed assessments and care. Again, we are custodians, not judges or doctors … our job is to secure the safety of the community, but we have a special desire to make sure that those entrusted to our care are treated as “innocent until proven guilty.” Securing their safety sometimes runs counter to establishing an environment of comfort during their stay. We continually seek that balance.

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Those who stay with us are given opportunities for counseling, medical support, and educational benefits, along with other community resources to help them avoid future trauma, and to secure the help they need to return to a productive life.

Oddly, we are often the main doorway to the help they need. We’ve run into people who never knew they had a medical condition until their incarceration. Returning to their families, with a plan, and proper community support, with medical treatments lined up, can take an unfortunate incident and make it a turning point toward recovery and a better life ahead.