Who should you first call when addressing an inmate with a mental health issue?

• A. Your supervisor
• B. A mental health professional
• C. Medical staff
• D. Maintenance

Answer: (B)

When you spot signs of mental distress or a crisis, the first move is to involve someone with specialized training in mental health. A mental health professional can quickly assess the inmate’s state, de‑escalate if needed, and determine the safest and most appropriate next steps—such as crisis intervention, medication management, or placement for ongoing treatment. They can also assess risk to self or others and coordinate with medical staff if there are any physical health concerns.

Later steps like notifying a supervisor are important for oversight, but they don’t substitute for the specialized evaluation and immediate plan a mental health professional can provide. Medical staff handle physical health issues and emergencies, not the psychiatric assessment, and maintenance staff aren’t trained to respond to mental health crises. If there’s an immediate medical emergency, seek medical help right away, but for mental health issues, the first contact should be a mental health professional.