In 2019, The Centralia Police Department took a step forward and acknowledged the fact mental heath is an issue within our community. A majority of the time mental health illnesses can play a factor in some of the police related calls our officers respond to and at times can be dangerous if not approached accordingly. As a police department we are always re-evaluating in terms of how we can improve. Our goal as always is to protect and serve. So we need to protect our citizens when someone may be having a crisis. By serving we are offering those who suffer with the appropriate resources they require. Our police department has teamed up with the East Central Crisis Intervention Team, The Arthur Center in Mexico, Missouri and Burrell Behavioral Health in Columbia, Missouri. If and when their is a crisis our Crisis Intervention Officer will provide the individual with resources and put them in contact with our Community Mental Health Liaison, trina.hays [at] burrellcenter.com (Trina Hays), who serves Boone and Randolph county.
Are you having a crisis, if so please contact the following:
Centralia Police Department
Phone: 573-682-2132
Crisis Hotline
Phone: 800-395-2132
What is CIT?
CIT (Crisis Intervention Team) programs are local initiatives designed to improve the way law enforcement and the community respond to people experiencing mental health crises. They are built on strong partnerships between law enforcement, mental health provider agencies and individuals and families affected by mental illness.
What is Mental Illness?
A mental illness is a medical condition that disrupts a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning. Just as diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas, mental illnesses are medical conditions that often result in a diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life.
Serious mental illnesses include major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and borderline personality disorder. The good news about mental illness is that recovery is possible.
Mental illnesses can affect persons of any age, race, religion or income. Mental illnesses are not the result of personal weakness, lack of character or poor upbringing. Mental illnesses are treatable. Most people diagnosed with a serious mental illness can experience relief from their symptoms by actively participating in an individual treatment plan.
Resources:
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Missouri Crisis Intervention Team
Arthur Center of Mexico, Missouri
Burrell Health of Columbia, Missouri