Pinellas County law enforcement officers are getting inside the minds of people with mental illness.

Twice a year, Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Training is offered to Bay area officers. The one-week course is designed to teach law enforcement officers how to handle calls involving people who are mentally ill.

Mental health providers team up with law enforcement to make sure people are getting the help and services they need.

"[We] want to ensure that we are responding appropriately to people in crisis and that we’re getting them to the help and to the services that they need," said April Lott, who is the county's training chair.

The first-responders learn common mental health diagnoses, ranging from anxiety disorders to psychotic disorders.

"We want to sensitize the officers to really how difficult it is to live with mental illness," said Lott.

In one training exercise, officers put on headsets and hear distressing voices.

"They’re hearing voices and the sounds that somebody who is experiencing schizophrenia or psychosis hears," said Lott.

While listening to those voices, trainees must tackle math problems and answer interview questions.

Clearwater police officer Justin Howard said it was difficult.

"I couldn’t focus on simple tasks that were put in front of me and at one point I was getting agitated," he said.

Trainees also visit area mental health facilities to see how they operate, and they talk with clients in various states of recovery.

"Seeing what people go through has been a very eye-opening experience," said Officer Howard.

"Clients are able to say, 'When I’m in crisis and you show up with your gun and your Taser and in your uniform, I feel scared,' ” said Lott. “And officers often will then say back, 'When I show up and you’re in crisis and you’re screaming and out of control, I’m scared too.' "

On the fourth day of training, officers put their new knowledge to the test by participating in a series of scenarios. The mock cases range from having a teenage girl who is a cutter to somebody living with schizophrenia.

Lott says learning how to calm somebody and assess the situation helps officers determine how to proceed with recommending resources or treatment.

"Absolutely, I get a better understanding of how to deal with them and what they’re experiencing,” said St Petersburg police officer Larry Wellman.

Wellman said he feels better about his ability to communicate with people who are experiencing a mental health crisis.

But when that communication doesn’t work and an officer’s life is in danger, Lott says they are going to resort to their law enforcement training to protect themselves and others.

While the officers in training are able to quiet the voices, they have a new understanding of those who cannot.

"They’re experiencing something completely different than what I’m experiencing,” said Officer Howard. “And it’s very real to them and come from a place of understanding and patience."

Some departments offer additional in-service training, and a state course is also available.

Here's how Bay area law enforcement agencies stand with CIT, in terms of how many sworn officers have completed training:

  • Pinellas Park Police Department: 54 percent
  • Largo Police Department: 52 percent
  • Clearwater Police Department: 74 percent
  • St. Petersburg: 10 percent

St. Petersburg police chief Anthony Holloway, who used to be Clearwater's chief, issued a directive last month for all officers to receive CIT.

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office also sends its deputies to CIT.