Investigating police officers' perceptions of their role in pathways to mental healthcare

Abstract

In the United Kingdom, one‐in‐four individuals with mental health problems access mental healthcare with police involvement. However, little is known about police officers' perceptions of their role in pathways to services. The aim of this study was to examine UK police officers' views and experiences of their involvement in mental healthcare, focusing on decision‐making in emergency situations. Using volunteer sampling, we recruited 15 police officers from a large metropolitan conurbation in the North West of England. Semi‐structured interviews, including a vignette depicting a mental health emergency, were used to elicit data. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed at the manifest level using thematic analysis, yielding three main themes: ‘Doing What's Right’, ‘Challenges of Working Together’ and ‘Training versus Experience’. Our findings indicate that, while police officers believe they have a duty of care to protect people in mental health emergencies, they sometimes lack relevant knowledge, skills and confidence in decision‐making. Challenges associated with multi‐agency working were also perceived as impeding officers’ ability to effectively manage these emergencies. Our findings suggest that strengthening multi‐agency working and improving training might positively influence police officers' views of their role and maximise their contribution to improving emergency mental healthcare.

Subjective experiences of the first response to mental health crises in the community: a qualitative systematic review

“…Mental health crises will often take place in a person’s home with others, often family, present. In line with research of parents of children with psychosis,87 companions described the, often traumatic, impact of the FR response and a lack of inclusion and communication 18 24–30 33–37 39–41 43–60 62–70 74–78 81 82 86 88–104. Our findings reflect that of previous studies,105 which show that family/carers experience distress, guilt, reluctance to call FRs, fear of disproportionate use of force and relief for having FR support.…”

“…Previous reviews71–73 reported FRs’ reasons for force, such as their duty of care, bystanders and themselves, and that PMI are likely to be resistant and this would require proportionate force. FRs suggested that using force is required to gain control and central to their profession, and dealing with MHC was not, at least officially, a central part of their role 25 26 33 36 37 45 51 52 56 58 59 62 68 70 74–78. However, the role of FRs in managing mental ill health in the community is vital and likely to increase due the COVID-19 pandemic,79 the subsequent economic crisis, as well as climate change, which disproportionally affects vulnerable people and can be the cause for mental illness 80.…”

‘Defunding the police’: A consideration of the implications for the police role in mental health work

“…A number of factors have combined to increase concern about the role of the police. These include demands on police resources but also more fundamental questions about whether it is appropriate for police officers to take on the role (Marsden et al, 2020). The response has been initiatives such as street triage or liaison and diversion schemes.…”

An experimental study of triggers and needs of threats in critical adversity situations in a student sample

“…Moreover, teams working under CAS circumstances have high responsibility (e.g., Hagemann et al, 2012 ), as being insufficient in one’s role has serious consequences for themselves and others (e.g., Maynard et al, 2018 ). This even makes them liable for mistakes ( Marsden et al, 2020 ). As a result, emergency teams strive to master the CAS successfully.…”