This course provides an introduction to mental health and crisis intervention for 911 dispatchers/public safety telecommunications operators. Dispatchers are a crucial first point of contact for an effective CIT response and this training will prepare call takers to communicate key information to those responding to possible crisis scenes as well as considerations and to identify situations where mobile crisis teams and other resources can be integrated. Other training topics include: identification of crisis calls, the dispatch role in triaging crisis calls, verbal de-escalation and communication strategies, legal considerations, the role of critical incident debriefs and strategies for maintaining physical and emotional wellness as a call taker. Practical scenarios are integrated to give participants experience applying the skills and concepts developed through training.