Inter-agency collaboration between mental health services and police in Queensland

Scott, Russ; Meehan, Tom

doi:10.1177/1039856217706823

Cited by 5 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…In Queensland, the Consumer Integrated Mental Health Application (CIMHA) was implemented in 2008. CIMHA contains all patient information including diagnoses, alerts and service episode information, clinical outcome measures and risk assessments and is accessible online to approximately 6,400 mental health service personnel throughout Queensland, including Court Liaison Service clinicians in watch houses and the Prison Mental Health Service (Scott & Meehan 2017). Thus, steps have already been taken to improve gaps in access to essential information for diagnosis and treatment of PSMDs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Deaths of people with serious mental disorder: An exploration of deaths in custody and fatal police contacts

Crissman

2019

Aust J Social Issues

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People with serious mental disorders (PSMDs) are overrepresented both in prison deaths and during fatal encounters with the police in the community (deaths after police contact, DAPC). To identify common factors present across cases of PSMDs who died during contact with the criminal justice system in Queensland, publicly available coroners reports were analysed (N = 38). The findings of the study indicated psychosis and mood disorders were the most common diagnosis in incarcerated PSMD deaths, and suicide was the most common cause of death for incarcerated PSMDs. Within incarcerated settings, access to healthcare records, medication compliance, risk assessment and monitoring, and safe housing of at-risk prisoners may be potential areas to explore with regard to prevention.Similarly, PSMD DAPCs were more likely to be experiencing mood or psychosis disorders than other forms of mental disorder, and suicide and police shootings were the most common causes of death. In PSMD DAPC, inadequate mental health access, treatment noncompliance and comorbid substance use were included as potential areas that could direct research efforts toward prevention. K E Y W O R D S deaths in custody, fatal force, people with mental disorder, police, police shootings

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Deaths of people with serious mental disorder: An exploration of deaths in custody and fatal police contacts

Crissman

2019

Aust J Social Issues

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“…Most jurisdictions across Australia have formalised interagency collaborations through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which is a written agreement regarding the sharing of information and safe handling of PWMI in crisis between police and health staff (Clifford, 2010). In some Australian jurisdictions, important information can be promptly conveyed to a police officer attending a PWMI in crisis via telecommunication from a mental health clinician (Scott & Meehan, 2017). Research from the UK has shown how knowledge sharing between first responders to PWMI in crisis can better inform an officer's judgements in making more therapeutic decisions when interaction occurs, such as not arresting, restraining and detaining the PWMI.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…International research determines that CIT schemes and other interagency response initiatives provide positive accounts of equitable treatment of PWMI in crisis (see Evangelista et al, 2016; Furness et al, 2016; Hanafi et al, 2008; Herrington & Pope, 2013; Morgan & Paterson, 2017; Scott & Meehan, 2017). Whilst Australian research examining these initiatives is still in need of systematic enquiry, studies by Clifford (2021) and Evangelista et al (2016) suggest that collaborative approaches between police and mental health professionals are pivotal in therapeutically de-escalating PWMI during the crisis.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Operational response: Policing persons with mental illness in Australia

Miles-Johnson

Morgan

2022

Journal of Criminology

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Across the globe, policing persons with mental illness (PWMI) in crisis involves significant police work. Police must respond effectively to individuals whose behaviour and language are often erratic, and who may be intoxicated or experiencing psychosis. In Australia, police are often criticised for inappropriately handling mental health crises in the community and for differentially policing PWMI in crisis. To better understand Australian police response to PWMI in crisis, this study conducted interviews with 25 operational police officers working in one of the largest Australian state police organisations. The findings indicate that police response to PWMI in crisis is underpinned by trial-and-error practices, because officers are insufficiently trained to manage PWMI in crisis, and police are resistant to accept tasks considered ‘welfare work’. Officers are also relieved when response to PWMI in crisis includes mental health practitioners. We argue that whilst the availability of interagency schemes in Australia is generally restricted to metropolitan areas, effective policing response to PWMI in crisis should include a collaborative response between police and mental health practitioners.

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“…A key component of the training is that PWMI and their carers present real-life examples of policing of PWMI in crisis to police to expose officers to a humanising perspective of police treatment from those with lived experiences of mental illness (NSW Police Force 2020). Across Australia and internationally, early reports of CIT and other interagency schemes provide positive accounts of police discretion control and enhanced equitable treatment of PWMI when encountering the police (Evangelista et al 2016;Furness et al 2016;Hanafi et al 2008;Herrington and Pope 2013;Morgan and Paterson 2017;Scott and Meehan 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Police Responses to Persons with Mental Illness: The Policy and Procedures Manual of One Australian Police Agency and ‘Procedural Justice Policy’

Morgan

2021

Social Sciences

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Persons with mental illness (PWMI) often report negative perceptions of police treatment following receiving criminalising and heavy-handed police responses. To appropriately control officer discretion and to harness ethical, legal, and efficient police practice when encountering vulnerable and diverse individuals, police agencies across the world issue policy documents to their officers. These documents serve as a reflection regarding how police agencies aspire to manage PWMI in the community. Using a procedural justice framework, this research measures how a large police agency in Australia aspires to manage PWMI and whether the police policy document provides sufficient detail in advocating the appropriate and just police treatment of PWMI. A content analysis of the policy document revealed a lack of sufficient procedural guidelines in effectively controlling police officer discretion when encountering PWMI in the community. This article argues that without further consolidation to embed appropriate procedural guidelines into the policy document, the procedural policy gaps may have a negative effect on the experiences of PWMI when encountering the police.

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Inter-agency collaboration between mental health services and police in Queensland

Abstract: Queensland has developed a number of initiatives for intervention and response to incidents involving police and persons with mental illness. Future research should focus on identifying interventions that promote effective resolution of incidents involving police.

Cited by 5 publications

References 16 publications

Deaths of people with serious mental disorder: An exploration of deaths in custody and fatal police contacts

Deaths of people with serious mental disorder: An exploration of deaths in custody and fatal police contacts

Operational response: Policing persons with mental illness in Australia

Police Responses to Persons with Mental Illness: The Policy and Procedures Manual of One Australian Police Agency and ‘Procedural Justice Policy’

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