Navajo EMS Behavioral Health & Crisis Response

26-GRMT-F3-0043 This self-paced activity is designed for EMS providers and focuses on the assessment and management of behavioral health emergencies and patients experiencing a mental health crisis. Using case-based discussion, participants will review scene safety, patient and responder protection, therapeutic communication, behavioral assessment, recognition of medical causes of abnormal behavior, suicide-risk assessment, de-escalation, treatment priorities, reassessment, medical-control consultation, and transport decisions. Topics include anxiety and panic disorders, depression, suicidal thoughts or attempts, psychosis, hallucinations, paranoia, bipolar disorder, severe agitation, aggression, substance-related behavioral changes, post-traumatic stress, developmental and cognitive disorders, dementia, delirium, grief reactions, and behavioral emergencies involving children and adolescents. Additional content includes capacity and consent, refusal of care, involuntary evaluation, law-enforcement involvement, restraint considerations, airway and breathing support, glucose assessment, recognition of overdose or withdrawal, prevention of positional asphyxia, continuous patient monitoring, documentation, and communication with receiving facilities. Learning Objectives At the completion of this activity, the participant will be able to: Identify behavioral health emergencies requiring immediate intervention and transport Differentiate psychiatric presentations from medical, traumatic, toxicologic, and substance-related causes of abnormal behavior Recognize suicide risk, severe agitation, psychosis, impaired decision-making capacity, and signs of patient deterioration Apply appropriate scene-safety, communication, de-escalation, assessment, monitoring, restraint, and transport practices Completion Requirements • Complete the full course • Pass the post-test with a score of 80% or higher • Complete the course evaluation Certificate Information: CAPCE credit