Recognizing Emotionally Disturbed Persons

Underscored by events reported in the media, crisis situations involving emotionally disturbed persons (EDPs) can sometimes result in tragic outcomes. Consequently, increased awareness and the ability to determine if a person’s actions are the result of unlawful behaviour or the manifestation of emotional or mental illness is an essential skill for first response personnel.

Recognition of Emotionally Disturbed Persons will review the broad categories of EDPs and provide recommended response strategies and approaches to deal with individuals in crisis. It is designed to build first responders’ confidence in dealing with EDPs they encounter in the field.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course you will be able to:

• Define “mental illness”
• Understand the percentage of the population affected by mental illness
• Become aware of some provincial rules and regulations regarding the treatment of the mentally ill
• Define “emotionally disturbed person” and describe the category system that can be used to help first responders identify the types of emotionally disturbed persons
• Describe the Head – Heart – Hands strategy and other tools useful to first responders in performing focused assessments and initiating response strategies for emotionally disturbed persons
• Recall the signs and symptoms of a Category R emotionally disturbed person and the recommended general response strategies for first responders
• Recall the signs and symptoms of a Category A emotionally disturbed person and the recommended general response strategies for security professionals
• Recall the signs and symptoms of a Category ExDS emotionally disturbed person and the recommended general response strategies for security professionals
• Recall the signs and symptoms of a Category S emotionally disturbed person and the recommended general response strategies for security professionals