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Corporal T. Parker George became a member of the University of Georgia Police Department in 2020 due to his desire to assist his fellow UGA students.
“Policing at UGA revolves around supporting students and our community partners,” stated George, who received a bachelor’s degree from the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences’ sociology program in 2022 and is presently enrolled in the School of Law’s Master in the Study of Law course.
One of the most significant hurdles in contemporary policing, George remarked, is “recognizing the indicators” of individuals facing mental health issues and ensuring they receive the assistance they require. This summer, George was among the most passionate participants in Mental Health First Aid, an innovative training program at UGA jointly offered by the UGA Police Department and the Division of Student Affairs.
The early intervention training, designed and executed by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, equips any employee or member of the public with the necessary skills to identify signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use difficulties, along with how to furnish initial support until they can connect with suitable professional care.
Individuals trained in Mental Health First Aid gain the ability to recognize the risk factors and warning signs of mental health crises, strategies to assist someone who is in distress, and how to reach out and provide information on where to seek help. Subjects addressed include depression, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma, psychosis, and substance use disorder.
During the daylong training, university police, student affairs staff, and other UGA personnel engaged in role-playing scenarios that demonstrated how to manage mental health issues and guide students in need to the appropriate resources.
The training also emphasizes the significance of self-care and how to formulate an action plan that promotes non-judgmental communication techniques.
“We’ll share strategies on how to interact with individuals experiencing mental health and substance use issues,” remarked facilitator Julia Buwick, a Community of Care Coordinator in UGA Student Care and Outreach, at the start of the July 25 training session. “If you leave today feeling more confident about engaging in these discussions, then we will have accomplished our goal.”
This collaboration enhances a longstanding tradition of partnerships between the UGA Police Department and the Division of Student Affairs, commented Beau Seagraves, associate vice president for student well-being within the Division of Student Affairs.
“Our police often serve as the initial responders who must identify troubling behaviors by students that may pertain to mental health,” Seagraves explained. “Having well-qualified police officers is crucial for our students to obtain the mental health support they require.”
Additional information regarding this training can be accessed at https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/.
P. Daniel Silk, the university’s associate vice president for public safety, compared this initiative to Crisis Intervention Team training — a 40-hour program that instructs law enforcement on enhancing community responses to mental health issues. UGA police officers, including George, have undergone this training since becoming new officers for over 20 years, and Mental Health First Aid training builds upon that essential knowledge.
“Because Student Affairs and the UGA Police Department collaborate closely, it’s essential to have an opportunity to learn together about such a vital issue,” Silk remarked.
George — who is also part of UGA Police’s Crisis Negotiation Team and Special Response Team — stated that the training “demonstrates just how devoted our community is to fostering an environment that destigmatizes mental health care and actively seeks to empower individuals facing mental health challenges.”
“It serves as a reminder of our purpose,” he affirmed.
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