Police management of mental health crisis situations in the community: status quo, current gaps and future directions

Abstract

This paper considers the application of principles widely used to conceptualise and address violent and aggressive behaviour in psychiatric settings and examines if and to what extent they may be applicable to the police resolution of community-based mental health crisis encounters. It suggests that police should distill the significant accumulated practical wisdom available within its ranks to inform the beginnings of an evidence-based approach regarding effective resolution of such incidents. These can then be further validated within the frameworks of interpersonal theory and enhanced therapeutic communication style recommended in psychiatric settings to help better equip police with a suite of evidence-based tools when encountering such situations.

Keywords:

• use of force
• mental health crisis
• communication
• approach style
• de-escalation