Patrons who show signs of mental illness can be confusing and upsetting to the toughest and most seasoned among us. What do you say to someone wandering around holding a loud and animated conversation with himself? How do you accommodate the child with autism who insists on rearranging your DVD collection or the adult with obsessive-compulsive disorder who demands that you check out her books a certain way? What rights do the mentally ill have with regard to public services, and what legal liabilities are associated with their presence in the library? This webinar increases your understanding of mental illness, teaches effective methods of communicating with mentally ill patrons who are creating a disturbance in the library, helps you protect staff and patrons in rare instances of possible violence, and shows you how to locate possible resources you can lean on when necessary.
Handout: Suggested Phrases
Webinar recording
Link to survey and certificate for CE credit