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The William H. Eastburn, III Award

The William H. Eastburn, III Award  

National Alliance on Mental Illness of Pennsylvania, Bucks County Chapter (NAMI) was recently presented with The William H. Eastburn, III Award by the Bucks County Bar Association.

Doylestown PA: National Alliance on Mental Illness of Pennsylvania, Bucks County Chapter (NAMI) was recently presented with The William H. Eastburn, III Award by the Bucks County Bar Association. This award recognizes a person or entity who has made significant contributions to the Bucks County system of justice. NAMI was honored for its overall service and advocacy in the area of mental health, with particular emphasis on its Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training. In 2006, NAMI first brought the idea of CIT training to Bucks County’s Behavioral Health Department. With the help of County officials, mental health professionals, and local law enforcement officers, the program has grown since that time, with its seventeenth class graduating last fall. CIT training helps law enforcement and first responders to recognize and respond appropriately to individuals with mental illness. Officers learn how to de-escalate a crisis, resulting in fewer injuries to responding officers as well as the affected individuals and bystanders, and how to refer the individuals to appropriate treatment.+

NAMI’s mission is to improve the lives of the citizens of Bucks County who suffer from a serious mental illness or, as family members and caregivers, share the burden of these devastating illnesses. This mission is accomplished through programs designed to support, educate and advocate for individuals with a mental illness and their family members. NAMI strives to educate the public about the true nature of mental illnesses and combat the stigma and discrimination often faced by people with these serious brain disorders. NAMI also advocates for training of teachers, law enforcement, and first responders to recognize and respond appropriately to individuals with mental illness.