Providing a pathway to community-based psychosocial or mental health support services for young people following initial encounters with police: a scoping review

Offending behaviour and mental ill-health among young people: Reducing recidivism requires integration with youth mental health care

“…Toronto’s Family Court Clinic) offered youth presenting to court psychosocial support delivered by mental health clinicians, including assessment, mental health consultation and referral services [ 33 ]. Broadening such integrated mental health supports beyond court to consider ‘through-care’, spanning first encounters with police [ 12 , 34 ] to supported post-custody release [ 35 ] remains a promising approach to explore and evaluate.…”

Reforming psychosocial and mental health pathways for young people following initial encounters with police

“…Reforming psychosocial and mental health pathways for young people following initial encounters with police responses, this is also the point for early diversion programmes. Three diversion models at this intercept point are evident: police partnerships with social services and education departments, which in some cases provide referral to mental health services; co-locating liaison staff from health services within police stations; and justice-directed diversion (Baker et al, 2022). Existing diversion models continue to be premised on justice-initiated responses, with each model involving police as a primary agency.…”