Alternatives to Calling Police During Mental Health Crises (part 1 of 5)
Channel: Rafael Frumkin
Date: 2017-03-28

Co-sponsored by the People's Response Team and SURJ

Co-sponsored by The People's Response Team and SURJ, this workshop will train folx in alternatives to calling the police when an individual is experiencing a mental health crisis.

Training will include:

1. Ways to identify various mental health crises in progress and stories from people with mental illness who have experienced police oppression during crises



2. A discussion of how various marginalized identities (race, class, age, ability, gender, sexuality, income, type of work) intersect with mental illness to influence treatment by police



3. Deescalation and crisis-coping techniques



4. A Q&A/talkback with presenters


We'll also be printing a zine containing stories of folx with mental illness/psychiatric disabilities who have been oppressed by police as well as more deescalation and self-care techniques. The zine would be distributed at the workshop. Folx can contribute to the zine anonymously if they'd like -- we'd just need their contributions by March 15.

SURJ is a national network of groups and individuals organizing White people for racial justice. Through community organizing, mobilizing, and education, SURJ moves White people to act as part of a multi-racial majority for justice with passion and accountability. We work to connect people across the country while supporting and collaborating with local and national racial justice organizing efforts. SURJ provides a space to build relationships, skills and political analysis to act for change.