Public Safety Response to Mental Illness Certificate
Explore the intersections of psychology and public safety
Mercer’s undergraduate certificate in Public Safety Response to Mental Illness, an 18-credit hour program, supports public safety students and professionals’ ability to respond appropriately to individuals experiencing a mental health event. Topics covered in the public safety certificate include:
- Police emergencies
- First responder negotiation
- Command procedures
- Information collection and debriefing
- Interagency communications and joint operations
- Security and crowd control
- Crisis management and incident containment
- Site survey and surveillance
- Victim and criminal psychology
- Special weapons and tactics
- Media relations
- Post-operation procedures
Looking to take your public safety education further? Explore Mercer’s B.S. in Criminal Justice Leadership or M.S. in Criminal Justice and Public Safety Leadership.
Format: Online • Start Terms: January, March, May, August, October • Credit Hours: 18 weeks |
The Public Safety Response to Mental Illness Certificate is designed for public safety students in the Leadership Studies Department and non-degree seeking students. The certificate equips students with psychological and criminogenic theories, giving you the tools to understand individuals experiencing a mental health crisis and respond effectively. The program also covers human behavior, how to analyze an individual’s presenting symptoms, and how to interact in a client-centered manner. You will also develop the ability to apply these skills in situations involving deviant behavior, recognizing the connection between psychology and the legal system, and combining that knowledge into a crime typology.
Public Safety Response to Mental Illness certificate courses:
- CRJS 264 Criminology
- CRJS 361 Criminal Offender
- CRJS/PSYC 380 Forensic Behavior
- HSRV 230 Introduction to Interpersonal Relations
- PSYC/SOCI 333 Social Psychology
- PSYC 360 Psychopathology
This undergraduate certificate consists of 18 credit hours.
Advance your career with a Public Safety Response to Mental Illness certificate
This certificate is ideal for individuals seeking mental health crisis intervention training for public safety professionals and law enforcement training in Georgia. Upon completion, career opportunities in this field may include roles such as:
- Law enforcement officer
- Community supervision officer
- Correctional officer
- Crisis intervention team member
- Emergency communication officer
- Court officer
Designed for busy and working adults
Many of our students work, take care of families, and study, so we design our classes to meet the needs of busy adults. The online format of Mercer’s certificate in Public Safety Response to Mental Illness is designed to help students advance their knowledge and skills while balancing work in the public sector.
Admissions requirements
Certificate students must be admitted to Mercer University and must have PSYC 111 (Intro. to Psychology), CRJS 160 (Intro. to Criminal Justice), and LBST 175/180 (Academic Writing 1 & 2) or the equivalent, before starting the program. The admitted students should have a GPA of 2.25 out of 4.0 or more to be eligible to be admitted into the certificate. The certificate accepts up to six credit hours as transfer credits from other educational institutions.
Make a difference in your community with a Public Safety Response to Mental Health certificate
Ready to earn your Public Safety Response to Mental Health certificate? Schedule your personalized admissions counseling appointment or contact the Office of Admissions.