Chandler firefighters learn how to better respond to mental health calls
Mar 20, 2019, 4:31 AM
(Chandler Fire Department photo)
(Chandler Fire Department photo)
PHOENIX — Firefighters in one East Valley city are being trained on how to better respond to emergency calls that involve behavioral health issues.
The Chandler Fire Department is participating in a new training program to equip more than 4,500 first responders with the tools necessary to handle those calls.
“We surveyed a bunch of our firefighters and found out we haven’t had a lot of training in this arena,” Battalion Chief Jeff West told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Tuesday.
Fifteen percent of calls for the first responders are related to behavioral health, which translates to a little over 3,000 calls a year.
“I can honestly tell you we may run more calls then we know that are behavioral health-related. Mental health is not just mental health, it’s also addiction,” West said.
The training session involved lectures, videos, hands-on learning and testimonials from people who have been impacted by similar issues.
A more advanced 16-hour training course was offered to firefighters who expressed further interest.
The program was developed in part due to a grant from Phoenix-based Vitalyst Health Foundation, and has since expanded to Phoenix, Mesa and Tempe.
West said he faced similar issues with responding to behavioral health calls during his time as a firefighter, so he believes the training will help.
“I know 20 years ago when I started as a firefighter, I may have run on someone who was having an anxiety attack and just not understood what that meant to that person,” he said.
“This training is going to help show us what that means and be able to slow down and really treat them and provide a better service for them.”
