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BOURNE, Mass. (WBZNewsRadio) - Making the mental health of her staff and the public a priority, Barnstable County Sheriff Donna Buckley has announced Mental Health First Aid training is available to her entire staff of about 300. What's more, the classes won't cost the sheriff's office a penny, thanks to funding from the Cape and Islands AHEC.
“Mental and behavioral health are just as important as physical health, everyone needs to make their mental health a priority,” said Buckley. “But those in law enforcement are especially vulnerable due to the trauma that can occur on the job. Correctional officers are at higher risk for substance misuse, depression, and suicide. The goal of this training is to ensure all our employees have the tools and resources they need should they or someone they know be facing a mental health crisis.”
The program consists of an eight-hour course that focuses on not only recognizing mental health crisis in others, but also oneself and is especially important to the region that's home to the Barnstable County Correctional Facility.
According to the Barnstable County Sheriff's Department, there are already protocols in place for inmates who may be suffering from a mental health crisis, but the course will bolster officers with the tools to identify and address early warning signs of a crisis.
“The training is universal. It works for inmates and everyone else,” Barnstable County Sheriff's Office Deputy Jeremy Steele said. “It starts the conversation. It does not make you a clinician. But it bridges that gap so we can talk to each other and be vulnerable.”
Correctional staff have a 39 percent higher suicide rate than those in other professions, according to Dr. Maura Weir, Director of Student Wellness and Counseling at Cape Cod Community College. Dr. Weir blames a perfect storm of risk factors for the spike, including exposure to trauma, access to firearms and a "reluctance to ask for help."
"The practice of putting on a strong façade while repressing emotions can be traumatic," said Sgt. Kerri Bergquist, of the BCSO. "This training opens the door to having those conversations with peers who understand what you're going through. And it can be done with less fear of compromising your job."
Since classes began in May, 144 employees have finished their training.
"The Sheriff's Office really stepped into the space and just ran with it," Michelle Constantino, employer relations and contract training manager at the college's Center for Corporate and Professional Education said. "This level of commitment to mental health awareness from the Sheriff is beautiful. It's very exciting and I hope that it inspires other employers."
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