This registration is for Maryland libraries staff only. Part of the Library 2.0 Service, Safety, and Security Series with  Dr. Steve Albrecht. This session will be recorded and archived on both the Maryland Libraries Training Niche Academy and Library 2.0.

OVERVIEW: 

The mental health crisis in the U.S. continues to grow, with one in five adults experiencing mental illness and 10% of youth struggling with severe depression. The impact of mental health issues extends beyond individuals, affecting businesses, families, and communities. It contributes to societal challenges such as homelessness, poverty, and an increased risk of aggression and violence. As these challenges have intensified, libraries and their leaders and staff already recognize the rising risk of encountering people having mental health events. This session will focus on understanding the broader mental health crisis and providing tools to safely and compassionately de-escalate situations involving individuals experiencing mental health struggles, anger, or self-destructive behaviors. Learn how to use empathy, awareness, and safety measures to make a difference in defusing these challenging situations.

The “Behavioral Health De-Escalation and Crisis Intervention Training” aims to provide a trauma-informed care approach grounded in compassion, empathy, and safety. This training equips participants with practical skills to navigate interactions with individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. Through an emphasis on safety and respect, library participants will learn how to de-escalate situations effectively, ensuring dignity and sensitivity are maintained when facing individuals who may be angry, upset, or self-destructive. Join David Fowler to gain the tools needed to respond confidently and compassionately to those in crisis.

LEARNING AGENDA:

• Identify, prevent, and respond to mental health crises that could involve escalation, aggression, and violence with composure, compassion, and empathy.
• Gain universal precautions for mental health crises that involve violence/aggression by applying the safety principles of the AVADE® training program.
• Understand the aggressive and violent characteristics of individuals suffering from a mental health crisis in the workplace environment.
• Improve your safety by employing verbal and non-verbal techniques to de-escalate, defuse, and prevent violent and aggressive behaviors.
• Acquire best practices for crisis interventions and de-escalation with individuals experiencing a mental health crisis.
• Gain knowledge about the predicting factors of aggression and violence in the workplace, their correlation with the components of the assault cycle, and learn appropriate response strategies.
• Acquire strategies to prevent physical harm by applying the principles of time and distance.

This 60-minute session on is another in our “Essential Librarian Series,” designed to be shown to new staff and leaders and to provide a refresher for all who work in the library. The presentation slides will be available to all who participate.

This project is supported in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library Services and Technology Act Administered by the Maryland State Library Agency.