Consumer experience of formal crisis‐response services and preferred methods of crisis intervention

Abstract

The manner in which people with mental illness are supported in a crisis is crucial to their recovery. The current study explored mental health consumers' experiences with formal crisis services (i.e. police and crisis assessment and treatment (CAT) teams), preferred crisis supports, and opinions of four collaborative interagency response models. Eleven consumers completed one-on-one, semistructured interviews. The results revealed that the perceived quality of previous formal crisis interventions varied greatly. Most participants preferred family members or friends to intervene. However, where a formal response was required, general practitioners and mental health case managers were preferred; no participant wanted a police response, and only one indicated a preference for CAT team assistance. Most participants welcomed collaborative crisis interventions. Of four collaborative interagency response models currently being trialled internationally, participants most strongly supported the Ride-Along Model, which enables a police officer and a mental health clinician to jointly respond to distressed consumers in the community. The findings highlight the potential for an interagency response model to deliver a crisis response aligned with consumers' preferences.

Collaboration in crisis: Carer perspectives on police and mental health professional's responses to mental health crises

“…Previous research exploring the quality of crisis responses has ignored the importance of carers; efforts have only been made to explore the point of view of consumers and professionals during a crisis (Boscarato et al . ; Godfredson et al . ; Hollander et al .…”

“…It is currently unclear if these issues also exist for carers with crisis responses, which would create severe limitations for carers requiring emergency assistance. Previous research exploring the quality of crisis responses has ignored the importance of carers; efforts have only been made to explore the point of view of consumers and professionals during a crisis (Boscarato et al 2014;Godfredson et al 2011;Hollander et al 2012;Hopkins and Niemiec 2007;McKenna et al 2015). Research that has included carers has done so with consumers and professionals making it difficult to clearly identify carers' voices.…”

Police and mental health responses to mental health crisis in the Waikato region of New Zealand

“…Service users have experienced contact with police as degrading and stigmatizing (Boscarato et al . ), and there is recognition by judicial and health agencies that significant issues arise in the context of police‐only responses to mental health crises. Specifically, New Zealand service users have been inappropriately detained in police cells as a place of assessment, an intervention linked to delays in assessment by specialist mental health services (Independent Police Conduct Authority, ).…”

Lived experience of involuntary transport under mental health legislation

“…Indeed, Boscarato et al . () suggest that such consumer experiences of services within crisis situations impact significantly upon their recovery. Many Burdekin recommendations were aimed at improving access to services.…”

“…It was readily apparent that the experiences described in the report would have had longstanding negative psychological impacts. Indeed, Boscarato et al (2014) suggest that such consumer experiences of services within crisis situations impact significantly upon their recovery. Many Burdekin recommendations were aimed at improving access to services.…”