Healthcare workers experience the highest rates of workplace violence year after year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). At the same time, a core part of the mission of mental health crisis teams is to engage and help individuals who may pose a risk to others. Mental health agencies regularly face the reality of individuals in crisis, clients, staff, former staff, or even individuals connected to staff who make threatening statements or exhibit concerning behavior.

What practices can agencies build to effectively detect, assess, and resolve these threats? A paradox can quickly emerge: when a mental health crisis team or agency continues to serve an individual who may pose a threat, staff safety may be at risk. Yet, when services are limited or denied due to that risk, the individual may lose access to critical treatment and support needed to resolve it. How can threat assessment and management be both effective in establishing safety and carried out within the mental health mission of recovery?

This workshop will present a step-by-step approach to building evidence-based, field-tested workplace violence prevention and threat assessment and management models, informed by the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals.

Location: 255 Courtland St NE, Atlanta, GA 30303