West Virginia first responders complete Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) to Improve mental health response

As the training concluded with a graduation ceremony, organizers emphasized the importance of collaboration among first responders and community support networks to ensure individuals in crisis receive the help they need rather than being funneled into the criminal justice system.

Hollis Lewis, the West Virginia CIT project director at First Choice Services, said the training is essential.

“This training is crucial for first responders, particularly law enforcement, because they frequently encounter individuals with mental health issues and substance use disorders,” he said.

“Many of the calls they respond to are not necessarily criminal-justice-related, so it’s essential that they have the tools to de-escalate situations and connect individuals to appropriate resources instead of the legal system. By improving crisis response, we can redirect individuals to the help they need and create a more supportive and effective community response.”

Corey Matheny, a deputy with the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, said the training gave him a new perspective.

“Coming from a law enforcement standpoint, we deal with a lot of substance abuse issues in Lewis County and the surrounding areas,” he said. “However, one of the biggest takeaways from this training is realizing that not everything is related to substance abuse. Many cases we encounter actually involve mental health crises rather than drug-related situations.

“A lot of times, we jump to conclusions or hold biases without realizing it. This training has helped me step back, assess situations more objectively and determine whether I’m dealing with a substance abuse issue or a mental health crisis. That distinction is crucial in how we respond as officers.”

Matheny said he hopes to apply the lessons he learned through the training.

“Before this training, I had already responded to many calls involving mental health crises where I had to use de-escalation tactics to determine whether the issue was substance abuse or mental health-related. Looking back, I now realize that there are things I could have handled differently,” he said.

“With the knowledge I’ve gained from this class, I plan to implement as much as possible in my job when I’m out in the field. My goal is to help individuals in crisis, provide them with better opportunities and guide them toward the right resources,” Matheny said.

Ben Holden, a 911 dispatcher at the Lewis-Gilmer 911 Center, said the training was invaluable.

“I think it’s definitely needed. There’s been a noticeable increase in mental health crises in the county, and this training has given us valuable insight into how to handle those situations,” he said.

“We covered a wide range of topics, from substance abuse to mental health issues, including things I had never even heard of before. One of the most important takeaways for me is learning that jail or probation aren’t the only options — there are other resources and services available that can truly help people in crisis. It’s great to have this knowledge so that we can share these resources with others,” Holden said.