Chief Deputy Andy Lowrie and others from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office presented a program on mental health for the Livingston Lions Club Wednesday.
Lowrie said that the two biggest issues facing the department are retaining employees and housing people with mental health issues while waiting on beds in other facilities to open up.
In good news, however, the department recently obtained a grant from the Burke Center that allows them to hire two deputies for mental health. They presently have four – two on the day shift and two on the night shift.
As for the root of the mental health issues, Lowrie said some are born with it, some it is trauma-induced and some it is drug-induced.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is responsible for the transport of all mental health individuals, from kids to adults.
The mental health deputies go through additional training, he said, noting that it is a lot different from dealing with criminals. He said that listening is a big key, as well as patience, because many times they just want someone to talk to. He said once a rapport is established, the mental health deputies conduct regular well checks, sometimes just knocking on the door and asking how they’re doing.
The grant requires the submission of monthly logs in which these well checks are documented.
He said at one time, the department was dealing with two a day, although the frequency seems to have declined some. He said holidays make a big difference for those with mental health issues, as does the weather.
