Evansville Police have partnered with area mental health professionals to ensure follow-up care is provided to those who have lost a loved one to suicide.
Officers are currently trained in Crisis Intervention. The C.I.T officers are trained to assist people who are having thoughts of harming themselves in an effort to prevent suicides. Despite the efforts of the EPD and other agencies to prevent suicide, the suicide rate in Vanderburgh county is still high.
The needs of those left behind to deal with the suicide are a concern for the first responders and the agencies who provide mental health help. Because of those needs, a new partnership has been established to provide metal health assistance to those on scene when the incident is being investigated. The program is called H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Everyday)
Evansville Police Officers will ask if anyone at the scene wishes to speak to someone about the incident. Those who wish to speak with someone right away will be put in contact with a mental health care provider before the officer leaves the scene. Those who decline the offer will be given information on who to call should they choose do so at a later time.
The HOPE team will allow officers to leave the scene knowing that the surviving family members and loved ones know they have access to free services to help them through the grieving process.
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