Law enforcement officers across America face a staggering reality: a substantial portion of their calls involve mental health, a trend echoing nationwide statistics. Whether your department serves a small town or a large urban metropolis, your officers and co-responders are responding to calls involving community members in mental health crises daily. Within this landscape, MILO stands committed to empowering officers with the necessary training solutions to provide a safe place to practice effective mental health interaction and response.

Responding to a subject in a mental health crisis requires emotionally intelligent police officers who are actively developing and maintaining mental health crisis intervention skills. Training for calls related to mental health crises isn’t a one-time event. It’s crucial that officers recognize the indicators of distress and can communicate safely and effectively with individuals in crisis, ensuring they receive the necessary assistance and support. Crisis intervention training such as Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) can provide an invaluable skill set for officers to intervene, de-escalate, and ensure safety for everyone on the call.

MILO training systems prioritize safe, effective, and empathetic communication with those in crisis. According to Dave Weiner, founder and CEO of Secure Measures LLC, “MILO technology enhances the realism of training exercises and equips first responders with the essential skills of empathy, compassion, and sensitivity required to handle such delicate situations.” Weiner further explains:

“MILO scenarios provide realistic and immersive training. Scenarios closely mirror real-life situations, which is essential when training first responders to interact and build rapport with a person in crisis, as it allows them to experience the stress and urgency of the situation in a controlled setting.

MILO technology can facilitate empathy and understanding. Responders learn how to listen actively, ask the right questions, and establish trust, which are crucial elements in effectively communicating with individuals who may be experiencing suicidal thoughts.

MILO simulations are a safe learning environment. A simulator provides a safe and controlled learning environment where first responders can make mistakes without real-world consequences. This allows them to refine their communication skills, test different approaches, and learn from their experiences.

MILO utilizes data-driven feedback. This feedback allows the trainer to provide constructive debriefing sessions, where first responders can reflect on their actions, identify areas for improvement, and refine their communication techniques.”

MILO’s scenarios are branching and flexible. This allows the instructor to escalate, de-escalate, and reproduce the situation. Police officers and social workers can work through the same crisis intervention scenario repeatedly, practicing what they learned in the 40-hour CIT program and honing their emotional intelligence and soft skills in dealing with those in crisis.

Video-based simulations serve as a valuable complement to the training, resources, and support offered by mental health professionals and CIT International training programs. The MILO system seamlessly aligns with and enhances the CIT 40-hour training program. The 4-plays, scenarios, and all the information utilized in the CIT training are replicated in the MILO training.

MILO simulation-based mental health scenarios are designed and filmed in consultation with active law enforcement, CIT-trained instructors, mental health experts, and clinicians. They feature diverse actors and situations, reflecting the realities of your communities. Whether your department is in a tight-knit small town or an urban sprawl, the mental health needs of your community — and your officers — deserve the best training available. MILO can be an integral part of your crisis intervention training program.

 

 

 

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988 immediately.

If you are uncomfortable talking on the phone, you can chat with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988lifeline.org.

You can also text NAMI to 741-741 to be connected to a free, trained crisis counselor on the Crisis Text Line.

 

For more information about services offered by Dave Weiner and Secure Measures LLC, please visit Secure Measures (secure-measures.com)