The LCPD's mental health program can teach faculty to recognize and identify mental health issues so that students can receive the appropriate care. | Unsplash/Kelly Sikkema
The LCPD's mental health program can teach faculty to recognize and identify mental health issues so that students can receive the appropriate care. | Unsplash/Kelly Sikkema
The La Crosse Police Department (LCPD) is working with Coulee Region school districts to improve school officials' approach to mental health issues.
According to WEAU 13 News, police authorities have been using Mental Health First Aid since 2018 to train people how to recognize and identify mental health issues so that students can receive the appropriate care.
"We were so pleased with the program that we had some of our staff members become trained as trainers for the program," La Crosse Police Chief Shawn Kudron told WEAU 13. "Once we did that, we started reaching out to some of our community stakeholders to say we have this program, and we also have the opportunity to bring it to you and your staff."
LCPD is offering training to any schools that would be interested and the program can be used to learn how to assist adults and youths.
Aquinas Catholic School is the first school in the Coulee Region to fully complete the program.
"Mental health has always been an issue with youth, more so than ever before with what’s been happening the last two years," Aquinas President Ted Knutson said, according to WEAU 13. "Not just with the COVID-related issues, and the learning gaps that have been caused by that, but also social media, the political environment. With everything that’s going on, it’s really just important that our teachers are trained to be able to identify some of the things that are causing the anxiety and the stresses."
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