Chris Archer trains Clark County councilors in CALM de-escalation techniques
NAMI Southwest Washington's adult program manager Chris Archer led a CALM de-escalation training for councilors, outlining practical steps—Communicate, Assess, Listen, Mediate—to recognize crisis signs and reduce escalation. He emphasized safety, small environmental fixes, and local referral numbers including 988 and 211.
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Chris Archer, the adult program manager for NAMI Southwest Washington, delivered a CALM de-escalation training to the council on Aug. 12, 2026, explaining practical steps staff can use when someone presents in crisis. He described CALM as a sequence — "Calm stands for communicate, assess, listen, mediate" — and urged staff to pause and regulate their own responses before engaging.
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