Huron Expositor, 2014-12-03, Page 21
2 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Whitney South, Huron Expositor
Several officers from all over Huron and Perth counties took some time out last
week to learn more about how to assist residents with mental health issues in their
communities. Here, the officers stand with trainer Sarah Burtenshaw after completing
the three-day course presented by the Huron Health Unit in Clinton.
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You are invited to attend these area churches
ST. THOMAS CHURCH
21 Jarvis St., Seaforth
Rector The Rev. Karine Snowdon
Rectory 519-482-9071
Church Office 519-527-1522
Sunday, December 7th
Advent 2
Worship at 9:30 am
St. Nick's Christmas Shopping for Children
ages 3-13 Sat. Dec. 6, 9am - noon
EVERYONE WELCOME
EGMONDVILLE
UNITED CHURCH
Pastor Steve Hildebrand
Youth Coordinator - Laura Nakamura
WORSHIP DECEMBER 7th, 10:30 am
Christmas Carols and Stories at Golf Course
Club House 7:30 pm
Youth Sunday School @ 10:30 a.m.
Adult Sunday School @ 9:45 a.m.
For more information view our web site
www.egmondvilleunitedchurch.com
and Like us on Facebook.
ST. JAMES ROMAN
CATHOLIC CHURCH
Welcomes You
14 Victoria Street, Seaforth
519-345-2972
Sun. Mass 11 a.m.
ST. PATRICK'S, DUBLIN
Sat. Mass 5 p.m. • Sun. Mass 9 a.m.
FR. BRIAN McCOLL
NORTHSIDE UNITED
CHURCH
MINISTER MARY FLETCHER
Welcomes You
Sunday, December 7th, 11:00am
2nd Sunday in Advent
Monday, December 15, 7:30 pm
Huronsong Chorus presents
We Come A -Caroling"
Benefit concert for Huron Women's Shelter
54 Goderich St., W
(...k. 519-527-1449
www.cavannorthsideunited.ca
BETHEL BIBLE CHURCH
An Associated Gospel Church
126 Main St. Seaforth 519-527-0982
Rev. Mark Kennedy
Sunday Worship Service 11 a.m.
Sunday School for all ages 9:45 a.m.
Tuesday Evenings
Youth Groups - Junior & Senior High
6:30 to 9 p.m.
Boys & Girls Club 7 p.m.
Wednesdays 7 p.m. Men's & Women's Bible Study
(S. EVERYONE WELCOME
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
59 Goderich St. W. Seaforth
519-527-0170
Rev. Rob Congram
Lorrie Mann - Organist
Sunday, December 7, 11:00am
Communion
ALL WELCOME
(.,‘. Sunday School and Nursery Provided.
Local police take the
time to learn more
about mental health
Whitney South,
Huron Expositor
Police from both Huron and
Perth counties recently took an in
depth look at dealing with mental
illness, as they participated in a
crisis intervention training work-
shop in Clinton, Nov. 26 to 28.
Sponsored by the Huron Perth
Human Services and Justice
Coordinating Committee, offic-
ers from the local OPP dis-
patches, as well as some from
Stratford and Wingham, learned
how to diffuse high-risk situa-
tions, as well as the proper pro-
cedures for helping those cop-
ing with mental illness.
Discussions included a range
of topics, including everything
from an overview of the Mental
Health Act to how to use local
community resources when it
comes to adult, child and youth
mental health.
Keynote speaker, Sarah Bur-
tenshaw, also talked about the
close partnerships developing
between Canada's police and
mental health professionals
including the challenges and
benefits of this growing trend.
"This whole week we learned
about the different mental health
issues people may have, what
symptoms they may present, as
well as how to diffuse a situation
involving someone having a men-
tal health crisis," she explained.
"We also looked at what commu-
nity resources are available and
the whole idea is that people con-
nect to these resources so that
they don't go into crisis again and
they don't need to have the police
involved again:'
An occupational therapist by
trade, Burtenshaw is currently
the CIT Coordinator for Hamil-
ton, Niagara and Halton Police
Services, as well as a mental
health trainer for the OPP. She
has been involved in the train-
ing of more than 1100 police
officers across the province over
in the past five years.
For Burtenshaw, helping to
educate police on how to identify
the best way to deal with high-risk
situations is an important piece in
assisting those with mental health
issues in their community.
"Police deal with people with
mental health issues on a daily
basis and I think by giving them
more information and education,
they can make the interaction a
more positive one with a positive
outcome," she explained, adding
she found the 18 officers in attend-
ance very open and receptive to
the information being given. "They
really wanted to be here, to learn
how to do things differently and do
things in a positive way.
Huron County OPP Constable
George Finch, who hails from
Exeter, was one of the officers in
attendance
Getting the chance to learn
more about how to help the
public was something Finch
said was very important to him.
"A lot of our calls revolve
around mental health and peo-
ple with different issues so we
want to make sure we take the
appropriate action when we
deal with them," he explained,
adding the ability to become
familiar with different symp-
toms and terminologies, as well
as what resources are available,
will help officers on a daily
basis. "The speaker and scenar-
ios were very dynamic and real-
istic, it was definitely a worth-
while experience
OFFICE HOURS
The Office Hours for
The Seaforth Huron Expositor are as follows
Mondays - 9am - 5pm
Tuesdays - CLOSED
Wednesdays - 9am - 5pm
Thursdays - 9am - 5pm
Fridays - 9am - 5pm
Seaforth
Win Expositor
8 Main Street, Seaforth ON
PH: 519-527-0240
www.seaforthhuronexpositor.com