People experiencing mental distress made up about 10 percent of all 111 calls, Andersen said – and that was rising, impacting on police’s ability to deal with crime.
In November 2021, figures showed police were simply too busy to respond to many mental health-related callouts, including suicide attempts.
Also in November 2021 Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said police had attended more than 70,000 mental health crisis events in the previous year, up 10 percent on the year prior.
“While police will always have a role in responding to emergency calls when there is a threat to life or public safety, we know that a police-led response is not always fit for purpose for people experiencing mental distress,” Andersen said.
“A combined response involving police, health and other social agencies will better support people presenting with mental distress via 111, along with easing demand on frontline police.”
In addition to the co-response teams, Verrall said the government planned to improve triaging in Emergency Communication Centres, up the use of telehealth and digital counselling “and develop multi-agency crisis hubs as alternatives to relieve pressure on emergency departments”.
“We will also explore how we can provide greater mental health-related training to existing workforces.
“This will complement the wider work underway across government to improve mental health and wellbeing in our communities. This work is expected to have a positive impact on mental distress and free up police resources.”
RNZ
