Ems Pre-Hospital Behavioral Emergencies

Catalog description

This course is designed to prepare emergency medical services (EMS) workers to identify and respond to the most frequent substance use and mental health conditions they confront as first responders. Topics will include: an overview of psychiatric disorders, an understanding of agitation levels and strategies for de-escalations, tools for responding to caregiver/family stress and anxiety disorders, and screening and interviewing techniques for patients with suicidal ideation. This course is also intended to prepare EMS workers to develop self-care strategies to avoid developing long-term mental health, burnout and substance use disorder symptoms in response to ongoing trauma exposure.