Consumers' Page

The CIT Program is a community-based partnership between consumers, families, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), CoastalCare, law enforcement agencies, mental health providers, and the medical community.

Mental Illness can affect anyone-no matter what age, sex, gender, or ethnic background-and it strikes more people than cancer or diabetes.  Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) is 40 hours of law enforcement training to teach the signs of mental illness, de-escalation, and provide resources to get into treatment. Research demonstrates that CIT diverts people from jail and into community services. Early identification and treatment is of vital importance; by getting people the treatment they need early, recovery is accelerated and the brain is protected from further harm related to the course of illness (National Institute of Mental Health).