CIT Crisis Intervention Team Training
Admin - July 9th 2024
Boley Centers is part of the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training in Pinellas county. The CIT model trains law enforcement officers to better interact with people experiencing mental health crisis. The goal is to divert these individuals to mental health services instead of the criminal justice system. Officers receive 40 hours of training on mental illness, de-escalation techniques, and legal guidelines. Training is provided by mental health professionals and people with mental illness themselves. Throughout the state, more than 3,000 law enforcement officers have been trained in the nationally acclaimed 40-hour CIT course.
CIT is a program originated by Memphis, Tennessee, Police Department that trains officers to handle mental health crisis calls. These specially trained officers can respond to such calls alongside their regular duties. The program has been shown to be valuable in saving lives, time and money, and is now used in many places around the world.
Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month
Admin - July 8th 2024
July is Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month not by an act of Congress but by the will of the People. Bebe Moore Campbell was an American author, journalist and teacher. She wrote several critically acclaimed novels that explored the impact of racism on individuals and their relationships. Her works include the New York Times bestsellers “Brothers and Sisters” and “What You Owe Me”. Campbell was also a mental health advocate and wrote several children’s books, “The 72-Hour Hold”, “Sometimes My Mommy Gets Angry” and “I Get So Hungry,” about a children coping with a mentally illness.
Mental Health Crisis Lifeline
Admin - July 5th 2024
A mental health crisis is a serious situation where someone’s mental or emotional state makes them a danger to themselves or others, or unable to take care of themselves. It can involve sudden worsening of symptoms, like mania or psychosis, or suicidal or homicidal thoughts. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, it’s important to get help immediately to ensure their safety and well-being.
Telemental Health In-Person Requirement Elimination
Admin - July 4th 2024
Beginning January 1, 2025, telemental health services will require a prior in-person consultation within the previous 6 months, creating an additional barrier to accessing care. H.R.3432 aims to eliminate the in-person consultation requirement for accessing telemental health services. The stigma surrounding mental illness remains a significant barrier to seeking and obtaining treatment. Removing barriers to mental health treatment benefits both individuals and the nation as a whole. Mental illness costs the nation an estimated $282 billion annually, with 25% of adults living with mental illness. A thriving economy cannot be achieved while neglecting a quarter of the population let alone half the population that will sometime in their life experience mental illness.
Baker and Marchman Acts Legislation Updated
Admin - July 3rd 2024
Florida has two laws: the Baker Act for mental health and the Marchman Act for substance abuse. These laws allow for both voluntary and involuntary evaluation and treatment. The state Department of Children and Families oversees these programs. On July 1, 2024, HB7021 takes effect in Florida updating the Baker and Marchman Acts. It makes big adjustments to the Marchman Act in particular, affecting the legal process for getting substance abuse treatment.