The presentations are aimed at increasing public awareness about mental disorders. The Police department created the Crisis Intervention Team about a year ago to help train officers to deal effectively and humanely with people affected by mental illness.

"Nationally, we realized that police were usually the first on the scene. We start looking at are we really providing the type of response that's needed and a national training was developed for law enforcement to respond to mental health needs," said Lt. Kenneth Gregory.

Members of the CIT put together the following schedule of presentations:

November 3, 2009: Depression

November 11, 2009: Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder

November 17, 2009: NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)

December 1, 2009: Substance Abuse and Dependence

December 8, 2009: Anxiety and PTSD

December 15, 2009: Self Injurious Behaviors

All of the presentations are held at Boone Electric Cooperative on Rangeline in Columbia and begin at 6:30 every week. Lt. Gregory said, "Our target audience ideally is for the general public, as well as, individuals who may have been through or experiencing some type of mental illness."