spot_imgspot_img

What Happens When Police Show Up for Mental Health Calls?

The number of police responses to mental health calls has increased in recent years, with more and more people calling for help. It is now widely accepted that mental health-related crises should involve trained professionals who are equipped to assess the situation and provide effective intervention rather than law enforcement personnel. But in cities and towns across the country, law enforcement remains the primary responder to mental health calls. In this article, we will discuss what happens when police respond to mental health calls, the challenges of responding to these calls, and some potential solutions.

Understanding What Happens When Police Show Up for Mental Health Calls

The majority of law enforcement departments lack the necessary training to effectively deal with mental health crises. As a result, officers responding to these calls often follow procedures that may not be appropriate or effective in providing the best outcome.

When the police respond to a mental health call, they typically do not possess the specialized tools, strategies or skills to appropriately de-escalate the situation and provide care. Instead, the officer’s primary function is to maintain order and public safety. This may involve restraining the individual, handcuffing them, and transporting them to a medical facility or jail.

Moreover, law enforcement often responds to mental health calls with a significant tactical presence, including multiple officers and, in some cases, paramedic or mental health professionals. This can exacerbate the situation and increase the person’s anxiety and distress.

Challenges of Police Response to Mental Health Calls

Providing appropriate and effective care for someone in a mental health crisis is extremely complex, and the inability of police officers to provide the requisite level of care can lead to negative outcomes.

Below are several challenges that law enforcement officials encounter when responding to these types of calls:

  1. Lack of Training: Officers do not receive adequate training to deal with these unique scenarios, which can lead to them having unsuccessful attempts at de-escalation, and further complications.

  2. Inappropriate Force: Police are often trained to first act with force. This approach can be hugely problematic and counterproductive, as it can often provoke an already-distressed person and make the situation worse.

  3. Ignoring or Misunderstanding the Goals: Police officers sometimes fail to recognize the individual’s attempts to communicate and can misunderstand their behavior as a form of aggression.

  4. Aggravation of Mental Health Issues: Police responses can further exacerbate individuals’ mental health issues, particularly if the crisis is due to a mental illness, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.

  5. Lack of Access to Effective Care: Police may be limited in their ability to provide the most appropriate intervention for an individual, due to a lack of specialized resources. It is also difficult for police to understand the individual’s mental health crisis if they have inadequate mental health training.

Potential Solutions to Improve Police Response to Mental Health Calls

In recent years, many initiatives have been put in place to improve police response to mental health crises. Here are some key solutions that can help reduce the number of negative outcomes when police respond to a mental health call:

  1. Increased Training and Education: Police officers should be provided with specialized training and education that focuses on mental health issues, de-escalation techniques, and self-care.

  2. Creation of Crisis Intervention Teams: These teams are comprised of trained professionals that specialize in mental health and are prepared to respond quickly to mental health crises.

  3. Improved Communication and Coordination: In order to increase the effectiveness of police response to mental health calls, it is important to ensure that local law enforcement agencies are working with related health and social services.

  4. Increasing Use of Non-Criminal Approaches: It is essential that law enforcement explore alternative approaches to responding to mental health calls, such as diverting individuals towards health services or providing refuge services.

  5. Empowerment of Mental Health Professionals: When responding to mental health calls, police officers should be briefed and guided by mental health professionals who may be better equipped to handle the situation.

Police show up at mental health calls for various reasons, such as to ensure public safety and to provide necessary intervention. However, police officers are not properly trained to effectively handle these sensitive situations. As such, their responses may inadvertently escalate the situation and make the crisis worse.

Therefore, it is essential that law enforcement officials receive adequate training and education in order to ensure successful outcomes when responding to mental health calls. Additionally, it is important that local law enforcement agencies collaborate with mental health professionals and relevant health and social services in order to find the best possible interventions for individuals in crisis.

With the appropriate measures in place, it is possible to improve police responses to mental health calls, and thereby improve the safety, health and well-being of the individuals facing these crises.

Get in Touch

spot_imgspot_img

Related Articles

spot_img

Get in Touch

0FansLike
3,912FollowersFollow
0SubscribersSubscribe

Latest Posts