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Jeffrey Geller's linking of a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program¹ that is revered by family members and consumers to what is now perceived as something barbaric is reminiscent of characterizations that stigmatize mental illness.

As a CIT class coordinator and family member, I have had officers in training, after about the third day, come up to me and acknowledge what "jerks" they had been out on the street, because they just didn't understand crisis intervention before attending CIT class.

While research data are ultimately necessary to validate and measure outcomes, common-sense application of humane actions and education, such as CIT, encourages creation of policies and resources to treat mental illness. Geller's article contributes to stigma, which may be the major deterrent to treatment and recovery.

David J. Lushbaugh

Past Chair & Member
Georgia & National CIT Advisory Boards
Member, Advisory Board, Emory University Fellowship in Community Psychiatry
and Member, NAMI National Board of Directors National Alliance on Mental Illness
Atlanta, GA

References

1. Geller JL: Commentary: is CIT today's lobotomy? J Am Acad Psychiatry Law 36:56–8, 2008

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Google Scholar Articles by Lushbaugh, D. J. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Lushbaugh, D. J.