August 2007
As the new CEO for the Brattleboro Retreat I have been reading with concern the recent articles and letters regarding the use of a Taser by the police. The Retreat has a long and rich history of commitment to the humane treatment of individuals from all walks of life who suffer from mental illness and addiction. The letter from Ed Paquin (Vermont Protection & Advocacy) speaks to the spirit of the Retreat’s mission: ‘to create an environment of respect, safety and hope by promoting recovery and partnership in healing.’
As treatment providers and concerned citizens we all recognize the negative impact that violence plays in our society. When entering a treatment program at the Retreat, individuals are made aware of our concern for safety. Each patient participates in developing a treatment plan with clinical staff to help identify risk factors that may trigger aggressive or violent behavior. A therapeutic intervention plan based upon a trauma history assessment is developed to help people verbally de-escalate when in crisis. This orientation to treatment is all part of the clinical vision statement displayed in each program:
Community Statement of Non Violence:
This hospital is a place to heal. Our goal is recovery, safety, hope and sanctuary. To be a healing place, we will work to keep this a non-violent environment. We ask that we all avoid violence in any form. Violence is not an acceptable behavior in this community. Violence includes acts of hitting, verbal abuse, bad language, and threats of violence, hurting oneself or making anyone a victim of these behaviors in any way. With this expectation, we can make this a safe place that has a sense of security and trust.
Working to achieve this safe treatment environment the Retreat has partnered with VP&A to create a model of care that VP&A applauded in an article written in 2006 for the Vermont Bar Journal in which it credited the Retreat for being a leader by “…moving the overall treatment philosophy towards one that supports patients retaining power and control of their treatment choices…” Our model has reduced violence and the need for physical intervention by placing a premium on the use of verbal problem solving skills. The results have been impressive, and strong support from patients about their experience tells us we are doing the right thing. Surveys of patient satisfaction with our treatment programs in 2006 and 2007 indicate that 94 percent of patients would recommend the Retreat to others.
In addition to VP&A, we have an ongoing collaboration with the Brattleboro Police Department. The Retreat never plans for the use of police intervention as part of a patient’s treatment plan and when requested it is intended as an emergency measure to preserve safety. I wish to recognize the police for their diligent efforts to understand the complex clinical issues faced by the patients we serve. However, when the police arrive they are not under Retreat jurisdiction. Chief John Martin has established policies and procedures to follow when all other forms of de-escalation have failed and when there is violence present in the form of an imminent risk to self or others.
As the CEO, and a clinician with more than thirty years of clinical experience, I recognize the importance of this issue and will continue to work with our staff, patients and community resources to maintain our goal of a safe and violence free environment.
We welcome questions and comments and want to acknowledge our ongoing dialogue and collaboration with VP&A and the Brattleboro Police.
Robert E. Simpson, Jr. DSW, MPH,
Chief Executive Officer
Brattleboro Retreat
Ana Marsh Lane
Brattleboro, VT
257-7785
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