Police Mental Health Partnership project: Police Ambulance Crisis Emergency Response (PACER) model development

Abstract

Objectives:

To review internationally recognized models of police interactions with people experiencing mental health crises that are sometimes complex and associated with adverse experience for the person in crisis, their family and emergency service personnel. To develop, implement and review a partnership model trial between mental health and emergency services that offers alternative response pathways with improved outcomes in care.

Methods:

Three unique models of police and mental health partnership in the USA were reviewed and used to develop the PACER (Police Ambulance Crisis Emergency Response) model. A three month trial of the model was implemented and evaluated.

Results:

Significant improvements in response times, the interactions with and the outcomes for people in crisis were some of the benefits shown when compared with usual services.

Conclusions:

The pilot showed that a partnership involving mental health and police services in Melbourne, Australia could be replicated based on international models. Initial data supported improvements compared with usual care. Further data collection regarding usual care and this new model is required to confirm observed benefits.

Keywords

partnership police ambulance crisis mental health

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Department of Health. An introduction to Victoria’s public mental health services, http://www.health.vic.gov.au/mentalhealth/services/intro-mhservices.pdf (2015, accessed 17 January 2015).

Memphis Police Department. Crisis Intervention Team, http://cit.memphis.edu/ (2014, accessed 5 January 2015).

Compton

Bahora

Watson

. A comprehensive review of extant research on Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) programs. J Am Acad Psychiatry Law 2008; 36: 47–55.

San Diego Police Department. Psychiatric Emergency Response Team, http://www.comresearch.org/pert.php (2010, accessed 5 January 2015).

Los Angeles Police Department. System Wide Mental Assessment Response Team, http://www.lapdonline.org/search_results/search/?q=smart (2015, accessed 5 January 2015).

New South Wales Police. Mental Health Intervention Team, http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/community_issues/mental_health (2014, accessed 5 January 2015).

Deane

Steadman

Borum

. Emerging partnerships between mental health and law enforcement. Psychiatr Serv 1999; 50: 99–101.

Steadman

Stainbrook

Griffin

. A specialized crisis response site as a core element of police-based diversion programs. Psychiatr Serv 2001; 52: 219–222.

Mental Health First Aid Training Australia. Mental health first aid training, https://mhfa.com.au (2015, accessed 5 January 2015).

10.

Victorian Department of Health. Office of the Chief Psychiatrist program circular –Apprehending of mentally ill persons by member of the police force under the Mental Health Act 1986, http://health.vic.gov.au/mentalhealth/pmc/appreh.pdf (March 2004, accessed 5 January 2015).

11.

Victoria Auditor General. Responding to mental health crises in the community, http://www.audit.vic.gov.au/reports__publications/reports_by_year/2009–10/20091111_mhc.aspx (2009, accessed 5 January 2015).

12.

Office of Police Integrity report. Policing people who appear to be mentally ill, http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/file_uploads/Policing_people_who_appear_to_be_mentally_pyt8YbmN.pdf (November 2012, accessed 17 January 2015).

13.

Victorian Department of Health. PACER evaluation report. http://www.acilallen.com.au/cms_files/acgpacerevaluation2012.pdf (2012, accessed 21 July 2015).

14.

Victorian Department of Health. Mental health and police response initiative, http://nhv.org.au/uploads/cms/files/MHaP%20Response%20Departmental%20Communique_July2014.pdf (July 2014, accessed 21 December 2014).