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Kuehl S, Kim AHM, Every-Palmer S. 'An accident waiting to happen' - experiences of police officers, paramedics, and mental health clinicians involved in 911-mental health crises: a cross-sectional survey. J Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs 2023. [PMID: 36932909 DOI: 10.1111/jpm.12916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023]
Abstract
WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT Police and ambulance staff are increasingly asked to help people experiencing mental health crises, but they often feel under-prepared. The single frontline service approach is time-intensive and risks a coercive pathway to care. The emergency department is the default location for transfers by police or ambulance involving a person involved in a mental health crisis, despite being viewed as suboptimal. WHAT THE PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE Police and ambulance staff struggled keeping up with the mental health demand, reporting inadequate mental health training, little enjoyment and negative experiences when trying to access help from other services. Most mental health staff had adequate mental health training and enjoyed their work, but many experienced difficulties getting help from other services. Police and ambulance staff found it hard to work with mental health services. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE The combination of limited training, poor interagency referral processes, and difficulties accessing support from mental health services means that when police and ambulance services attend mental health crises alone, distress may be heightened and prolonged. Enhanced mental health training for first responders and more streamlined referral processes may improve process and outcomes. Mental health nurses have key skills that could be utilized in assisting police and ambulance staff who attend 911 emergency mental health calls. New models such as co-response teams, whereby police, mental health clinicians and ambulance staff respond conjointly should be trialled and evaluated. ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: First responders are increasingly called to assist people experiencing mental health crises but little research exists canvassing multi-agency perspectives of such work. AIM/QUESTION To understand the views of police officers, ambulance and mental health staff attending mental health or suicide-related crises in Aotearoa New Zealand and to discover how they experience current models of cross-agency collaboration. METHODS A descriptive cross-sectional survey involving mixed methods. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and free text by content analysis. RESULTS Participants included 57 police officers, 29 paramedics and 33 mental health professionals. Mental health staff felt adequately trained, but only 36% described good processes for accessing inter-agency support. Police and ambulance staff felt undertrained and unprepared. Accessing mental health expertise was considered difficult by 89% of police and 62% of ambulance staff. DISCUSSION Frontline services struggle managing mental health-related 911 emergencies. Current models are not working well. Miscommunication, dissatisfaction and distrust exist between police, ambulance and mental health services. CONCLUSION The single-agency frontline response may be detrimental to service users in crisis and under-utilizes the skills of mental health staff. New ways of inter-agency cooperation are required, such as co-located police, ambulance and mental health nurses responding in partnership.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silke Kuehl
- Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Alice Hyun Min Kim
- Biostatistics Group, Dean's Department, University of Otago Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Susanna Every-Palmer
- Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
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Balfour ME, Zeller SL. Community-Based Crisis Services, Specialized Crisis Facilities, and Partnerships With Law Enforcement. FOCUS (AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC PUBLISHING) 2023; 21:18-27. [PMID: 37205037 PMCID: PMC10172540 DOI: 10.1176/appi.focus.20220074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
How a community responds to behavioral health emergencies is both a public health issue and a social justice issue. Individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis often receive inadequate care in emergency departments, boarding for hours or days while awaiting treatment. Such crises also account for a quarter of police shootings and 2 million jail bookings per year, and racism and implicit bias magnify these problems for people of color. Fortunately, the new 988 mental health emergency number compounded with police reform movements have created momentum for building behavioral health crisis response systems that deliver comparable quality and consistency of care as we expect for medical emergencies. This paper provides an overview of the rapidly evolving landscape of crisis services. The authors discuss the role of law enforcement and various approaches to lessening the impact on individuals experiencing behavioral health emergencies, especially for historically marginalized populations. The authors provide an overview of the crisis continuum, including crisis hotlines, mobile teams, observation units, crisis residential programs, and peer wraparound services that can help ensure that linkage to aftercare is successful. The authors also highlight opportunities for psychiatric leadership, advocacy, and strategies for creating a well-coordinated crisis system that meets the needs of the community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret E Balfour
- Connections Health Solutions, Phoenix, Arizona, and Department of Psychiatry, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (Balfour); Department of Psychiatry, Vituity, Emeryville, California, and Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California (Zeller)
| | - Scott L Zeller
- Connections Health Solutions, Phoenix, Arizona, and Department of Psychiatry, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (Balfour); Department of Psychiatry, Vituity, Emeryville, California, and Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California (Zeller)
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3
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Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training and impact on mental illness and substance use-related stigma among law enforcement. DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE REPORTS 2022; 5:100099. [PMID: 36844168 PMCID: PMC9949319 DOI: 10.1016/j.dadr.2022.100099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Limited empirical data and research exists about stigmatizing attitudes and perceptions held by law enforcement officers towards persons with mental illness and substance use issues. Pre- and post-training survey data from 92 law enforcement personnel who attended a 40-hour Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training was used to investigate training-related changes in mental illness stigma and substance use stigma. Training participant's mean age was 38.35 ± 9.50 years, majority white non-Hispanic race/ethnicity (84.2%), male gender (65.2%), and reported job category as road patrol (86.9%). Pre-training, 76.1% endorsed at least one stigmatizing attitude towards people with mental illness, and 83.7% held a stigmatizing attitude towards those with substance use problems. Poisson regression revealed that working road patrol (RR=0.49, p<0.05), awareness of community resources (RR=0.66, p<0.05), and higher levels of self-efficacy (RR=0.92, p<0.05) were associated with lower mental illness stigma pre-training. Knowledge of communication strategies (RR=0.65, p<0.05) was associated with lower pre-training substance use stigma. Post-training, improvement in knowledge of community resources and increases in self-efficacy were significantly associated with decreases in both mental illness and substance use stigma. These findings highlight the existence of stigma related to both mental illness and substance use pre-training suggesting the need for implicit and explicit bias training prior to the start of active law enforcement duty. These data are consistent with prior reports indicating CIT trainings as a path to address mental illness and substance use stigma. Further research on effects of stigmatizing attitudes and additional stigma-specific training content is warranted.
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Marcus N, Stergiopoulos V. Re-examining mental health crisis intervention: A rapid review comparing outcomes across police, co-responder and non-police models. HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY 2022; 30:1665-1679. [PMID: 35103364 DOI: 10.1111/hsc.13731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Police are the default first responders in most mental health crisis intervention models worldwide, resulting in a heavy burden on police, perceived criminalization of individuals with complex mental health needs, and escalation of aggression that resort to violence. Models, such as crisis intervention teams (CIT), and co-response programmes aim to improve service user experiences and outcomes by providing mental health training to police, or pairing law enforcement officers with mental health clinicians, respectively. Despite these efforts, mental health-related calls continue to result in negative outcomes, and activists and policymakers are advocating for non-police models of crisis intervention. Evidence-based practice in mental health crisis intervention is urgently needed. The present review's main objective was to examine, synthesise and compare outcomes across police, co-responder and non-police models of mental health crisis intervention internationally using a rapid review framework. A systematic search of four electronic databases of studies published between 2010-2020 and a grey literature search was conducted, yielding (n = 1008) articles. A total of 62 articles were included in the present review. Studies were largely observational, lacking control groups and were of low-moderate quality with a high potential for bias. Overall, there is little evidence to suggest that the CIT model impacts crisis outcomes. Co-responder models evidenced improved outcomes compared to police only models, however, evidence was often mixed. Non-police models varied significantly, and studies tended to be too low quality to make comparisons or draw conclusions, however, research on youth models and crisis resolution home treatment suggested positive outcomes. Findings highlight the need for high-quality studies and policies to facilitate the implementation and evaluation of novel approaches not involving police. Cross-sectorial collaboration and service user input are urgently needed to inform, develop, test and disseminate effective models of crisis intervention acceptable to service users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natania Marcus
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Compton MT, Krishan S, Broussard B, Bakeman R, Fleischmann MH, Hankerson-Dyson D, Husbands L, Stewart T, D'Orio B, Del Pozo B, Watson AC. Using the Theory of Planned Behavior to Understand How Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Training Facilitates Police Officers' Mental Health Referrals. Community Ment Health J 2022; 58:1112-1120. [PMID: 34812962 PMCID: PMC9197601 DOI: 10.1007/s10597-021-00920-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The Theory of Planned Behavior posits that behaviors are predicted by one's intention to perform them; intention is driven by attitude toward the behavior, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control. We used this theory to predict Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)-trained and non-CIT officers' intention to facilitate referral of persons with suspected mental illnesses to mental health services. CIT-trained (n = 251) and non-CIT (n = 335) officers from six law enforcement agencies participated. CIT-trained officers had significantly greater scores on all constructs. Theory constructs fit the data well, and fit did not differ meaningfully between the two groups. Direct and indirect predictors together accounted for 28% and 21%, respectively, of variance in behavioral intention. Attitude was the strongest predictor. Intentions to facilitate mental health referrals may be driven by the same factors among CIT-trained and non-CIT officers, but CIT officers, even at a median of 22 months after training, have significantly higher scores on those factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael T Compton
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, 722 W. 168th Street, Room R249, New York, NY, 10032, USA. .,New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Shaily Krishan
- Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Beth Broussard
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Roger Bakeman
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Matthew H Fleischmann
- Department of Educational & Counselling Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Dana Hankerson-Dyson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Letheshia Husbands
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Barbara D'Orio
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Brandon Del Pozo
- Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Amy C Watson
- Helen Bader School of Social Welfare, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA
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Jones N, Gius B, Shields M, Florence A, Collings S, Green K, Watson A, Munson M. Youths' and Young Adults' Experiences of Police Involvement During Initiation of Involuntary Psychiatric Holds and Transport. Psychiatr Serv 2022; 73:910-917. [PMID: 34911351 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.202100263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Over the past decade, police involvement in behavioral health crisis response has generated concern and controversy. Despite the salience and timeliness of this topic, the literature on service user experiences of interactions with officers is small and studies of youths and young adults are nonexistent. The authors aimed to investigate youths' and young adults' experiences of police involvement in involuntary psychiatric hold initiation and transport. In-depth interviews were conducted with 40 participants (ages 16-27) who had experienced an involuntary hold; the 28 participants who reported police involvement are the focus of this analysis. Data were inductively coded, and codes were grouped into larger themes. A majority of participants reported negative experiences; major themes characterizing negative encounters were the framing of distress as criminal or of intervention as disciplinary rather than therapeutic, perceived aggression and callousness from police officers, and poor communication. The authors also characterized the positive experiences of officer involvement reported by a minority of participants and youths' perspectives on the degree of control officers could exert over initiation and transport decisions. Findings help center the voices of youths and young adults with mental health challenges and raise important questions about contemporary policies regarding police involvement in crisis response and, more broadly, about coercive responses to distress or emotional crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nev Jones
- School of Social Work, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh (Jones); Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa (Gius); Center for Mental Health (Shields) and Center for the Prevention of Suicide (Green), Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia (Shields); Program on Recovery and Community Health, Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut (Florence); private practice, Philadelphia (Collings); Helen Bader School of Social Welfare, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee (Watson); Silver School of Social Work, New York University, New York City (Munson)
| | - Becky Gius
- School of Social Work, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh (Jones); Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa (Gius); Center for Mental Health (Shields) and Center for the Prevention of Suicide (Green), Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia (Shields); Program on Recovery and Community Health, Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut (Florence); private practice, Philadelphia (Collings); Helen Bader School of Social Welfare, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee (Watson); Silver School of Social Work, New York University, New York City (Munson)
| | - Morgan Shields
- School of Social Work, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh (Jones); Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa (Gius); Center for Mental Health (Shields) and Center for the Prevention of Suicide (Green), Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia (Shields); Program on Recovery and Community Health, Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut (Florence); private practice, Philadelphia (Collings); Helen Bader School of Social Welfare, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee (Watson); Silver School of Social Work, New York University, New York City (Munson)
| | - Ana Florence
- School of Social Work, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh (Jones); Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa (Gius); Center for Mental Health (Shields) and Center for the Prevention of Suicide (Green), Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia (Shields); Program on Recovery and Community Health, Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut (Florence); private practice, Philadelphia (Collings); Helen Bader School of Social Welfare, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee (Watson); Silver School of Social Work, New York University, New York City (Munson)
| | - Shira Collings
- School of Social Work, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh (Jones); Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa (Gius); Center for Mental Health (Shields) and Center for the Prevention of Suicide (Green), Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia (Shields); Program on Recovery and Community Health, Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut (Florence); private practice, Philadelphia (Collings); Helen Bader School of Social Welfare, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee (Watson); Silver School of Social Work, New York University, New York City (Munson)
| | - Kelly Green
- School of Social Work, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh (Jones); Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa (Gius); Center for Mental Health (Shields) and Center for the Prevention of Suicide (Green), Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia (Shields); Program on Recovery and Community Health, Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut (Florence); private practice, Philadelphia (Collings); Helen Bader School of Social Welfare, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee (Watson); Silver School of Social Work, New York University, New York City (Munson)
| | - Amy Watson
- School of Social Work, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh (Jones); Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa (Gius); Center for Mental Health (Shields) and Center for the Prevention of Suicide (Green), Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia (Shields); Program on Recovery and Community Health, Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut (Florence); private practice, Philadelphia (Collings); Helen Bader School of Social Welfare, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee (Watson); Silver School of Social Work, New York University, New York City (Munson)
| | - Michelle Munson
- School of Social Work, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh (Jones); Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa (Gius); Center for Mental Health (Shields) and Center for the Prevention of Suicide (Green), Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia (Shields); Program on Recovery and Community Health, Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut (Florence); private practice, Philadelphia (Collings); Helen Bader School of Social Welfare, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee (Watson); Silver School of Social Work, New York University, New York City (Munson)
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Balfour ME, Hahn Stephenson A, Delany-Brumsey A, Winsky J, Goldman ML. Cops, Clinicians, or Both? Collaborative Approaches to Responding to Behavioral Health Emergencies. Psychiatr Serv 2022; 73:658-669. [PMID: 34666512 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.202000721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
How a community responds to behavioral health emergencies is both a public health issue and social justice issue. Individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis often receive inadequate care in emergency departments (EDs), boarding for hours or days while waiting for treatment. Such crises also account for a quarter of police shootings and >2 million jail bookings per year. Racism and implicit bias magnify these problems for people of color. Growing support for reform provides an unprecedented opportunity for meaningful change, but solutions to this complex issue will require comprehensive systemic approaches. As communities grapple with behavioral health emergencies, the question is not just whether law enforcement should respond to behavioral health emergencies but how to reduce unnecessary law enforcement contact and, if law enforcement is responding, when, how, and with what support. This policy article reviews best practices for law enforcement crisis responses, outlines the components of a comprehensive continuum-of-crisis care model that provides alternatives to law enforcement involvement and ED use, and offers strategies for collaboration and alignment between law enforcement and clinicians toward common goals. Finally, policy considerations regarding stakeholder engagement, financing, data management, legal statutes, and health equity are presented to assist communities interested in taking steps to build these needed solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret E Balfour
- Connections Health Solutions, Tucson, Arizona (Balfour); Department of Psychiatry, University of Arizona, Tucson (Balfour); public sector consultant, Carolina Beach, North Carolina (Hahn Stephenson); Council of State Governments Justice Center, New York City (Delany-Brumsey); Tucson Police Department, Tucson, Arizona (Winsky); San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco (Goldman); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco (Goldman)
| | - Arlene Hahn Stephenson
- Connections Health Solutions, Tucson, Arizona (Balfour); Department of Psychiatry, University of Arizona, Tucson (Balfour); public sector consultant, Carolina Beach, North Carolina (Hahn Stephenson); Council of State Governments Justice Center, New York City (Delany-Brumsey); Tucson Police Department, Tucson, Arizona (Winsky); San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco (Goldman); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco (Goldman)
| | - Ayesha Delany-Brumsey
- Connections Health Solutions, Tucson, Arizona (Balfour); Department of Psychiatry, University of Arizona, Tucson (Balfour); public sector consultant, Carolina Beach, North Carolina (Hahn Stephenson); Council of State Governments Justice Center, New York City (Delany-Brumsey); Tucson Police Department, Tucson, Arizona (Winsky); San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco (Goldman); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco (Goldman)
| | - Jason Winsky
- Connections Health Solutions, Tucson, Arizona (Balfour); Department of Psychiatry, University of Arizona, Tucson (Balfour); public sector consultant, Carolina Beach, North Carolina (Hahn Stephenson); Council of State Governments Justice Center, New York City (Delany-Brumsey); Tucson Police Department, Tucson, Arizona (Winsky); San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco (Goldman); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco (Goldman)
| | - Matthew L Goldman
- Connections Health Solutions, Tucson, Arizona (Balfour); Department of Psychiatry, University of Arizona, Tucson (Balfour); public sector consultant, Carolina Beach, North Carolina (Hahn Stephenson); Council of State Governments Justice Center, New York City (Delany-Brumsey); Tucson Police Department, Tucson, Arizona (Winsky); San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco (Goldman); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco (Goldman)
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Costigan CL, Woodin EM, Duerksen KN, Ferguson R. Benefits and Drawbacks of Police Integration Into Assertive Community Treatment Teams. Psychiatr Serv 2022; 73:447-455. [PMID: 34615367 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.201900549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Assertive community treatment (ACT) teams provide outreach services to individuals coping with severe mental illness. Because such individuals are at increased risk for involvement with law enforcement, a model that integrates police officers into ACT teams (ACT-PI) was developed for ACT teams serving clients with or without forensic involvement. The goal of this study, conducted in British Columbia, was to evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of the ACT-PI model. METHODS Qualitative semistructured interviews were conducted with 21 ACT-PI clients (in 2017) and 22 ACT-PI staff (in 2018). Thematic analyses identified key themes related to the benefits and drawbacks of officer integration into the ACT-PI model. RESULTS Perceived benefits of police integration were opportunities for relationship building between officers and clients, improved safety, more holistic care due to embeddedness (i.e., effective interagency collaboration between police and health care providers), the prevention of future problems, and police officers' authority enhancing compliance. Perceived drawbacks included risk for legal consequences, stigma from police interaction, escalating distress of clients, low officer availability, and the risk for changing the nature of ACT teams. CONCLUSIONS Participants reported that the model of officer integration into ACT-PI teams may improve both client and staff well-being. In some communities, and with certain precautions, ACT-PI may be a viable model for ACT teams serving clients with and clients without a history of forensic involvement.
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Watson AC, Owens LK, Wood J, Compton MT. The Impact of Crisis Intervention Team Response, Dispatch Coding, and Location on the Outcomes of Police Encounters with Individuals with Mental Illnesses in Chicago. POLICING (OXFORD, ENGLAND) 2021; 15:1948-1962. [PMID: 34659453 PMCID: PMC8507917 DOI: 10.1093/police/paab010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) model has been implemented in over 3,000 communities across the USA. Research to date has shown beneficial results in terms of officers' knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy, stigma, and force preferences. This study aimed to broaden the lens on the implementation context of CIT to examine whether factors in the environment and response process affect how calls are resolved. This study focused on several factors-CIT response, call location, and upstream decisions to pre-identify calls as mental health-related-that may impact call outcomes. Our findings suggest that CIT response, dispatch coding, and the places where calls originate play a role in shaping outcomes. More research is needed to unpack the effects of this wider CIT implementation environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy C Watson
- Amy C. Watson, Helen Bader School of Social Welfare, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Linda K Owens
- Linda K. Owens, Carle Foundation Hospital, Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Jennifer Wood
- Jennifer Wood, Department of Criminal Justice, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Michael T Compton
- Michael T. Compton, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
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Lorey K, Fegert JM. Increasing Mental Health Literacy in Law Enforcement to Improve Best Practices in Policing-Introduction of an Empirically Derived, Modular, Differentiated, and End-User Driven Training Design. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:706587. [PMID: 34408683 PMCID: PMC8365022 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.706587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: Law enforcement officers often have contact to persons who show symptoms of mental disorders. Adequately designed training is necessary for developing the best possible practices in policing when coming into contact with mentally ill people, and may help to expand their general knowledge on mental disorders. To achieve a sustainable implementation of training content in daily policing work, the acceptance and proactive integration of methods by the training participants is essential. Method: This study investigates an exemplary modular training curriculum based on a survey with 2,228 German police officers (28.2% female, 71.8% male) concerning their needs and challenges when coming into contact with persons with mental disorders. This empirical end-user driven approach was used to adapt existing training concepts to the current needs and interests of law enforcement personnel in order to maximize compliance. Results: The training program draft includes basic modules which are intended to be of direct interest to all police officers, such as mental disorders with high policing relevance, encountering suicidal patients, (non-directive) communication and de-escalation skills, and mental hygiene in policing. They are arranged in more specialized modules that address specific target group audiences within police forces and the training curriculum provides information about genuine risks and self-protection, trauma sensitivity, and interaction with children and victims among other contents. The self-selectable, modular, and empirically-based continued training program also includes an introduction to local mental health service professionals and networks, trialogue sequences, and situational role play scenarios. Conclusion: Due to frequent contact law enforcement officers have to mentally ill people, improved training designed to maximize knowledge and the integration of trained methods is necessary. Gaining acceptance and proactive support by trainees is ensured through end-user driven implementation of specialized and differentiated up-to-date training programs. Our results showcase how police officers' perspectives on persons with mental illnesses is a main aspect that can and should be used to encourage training course designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Lorey
- Ministry of the Interior, Digitalisation and Local Government of Baden-Wuerttemberg, Stuttgart, Germany
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Jörg M. Fegert
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
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11
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Osteen PJ, Ohme K, Morris RC, Arciniegas J, Frey JJ, Woods M, Forsman RL. Suicide intervention training with law enforcement officers. Suicide Life Threat Behav 2021; 51:785-794. [PMID: 33998030 DOI: 10.1111/sltb.12763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Law Enforcement Officers' (LEO) interactions with people facing mental health crises have risen exponentially since the era of deinstitutionalization. On average, about 10% of the individuals law enforcement interacts with daily have mental health challenges. Several factors influence the outcome of these interactions, not least of which is an officer's role as a gatekeeper as well as their training related to people with mental health challenges. We hypothesized that participating in the online QPR Training for Law Enforcement Officers would be associated with improved knowledge about suicide, attitudes to suicide and suicide intervention, and self-efficacy. Additionally, we hypothesized that these outcomes would be associated with greater use of intervention skills when encountering individuals at risk for suicide in the community. Results of our longitudinal analysis find that most of the participating officers reported some prior training and yet demonstrated statistically significant improvements in knowledge and attitudes after controlling for previous training. No significant changes were observed in LEO's use of intervention skills following training. We conclude by suggesting that there is substantial need for increased training; and offering possible conceptual and empirical explanations for the observed results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip J Osteen
- College of Social Work, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Karen Ohme
- Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | | | - Jorge Arciniegas
- College of Social Work, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Jodi J Frey
- University of Maryland, Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Huey L, Andersen J, Bennell C, Ann Campbell M, Koziarski J, Vaughan AD. Caught in the currents: evaluating the evidence for common downstream police response interventions in calls involving persons with mental illness. Facets (Ott) 2021. [DOI: 10.1139/facets-2021-0055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The origins of this report, and of the Mental Health and Policing Working Group, can be traced to the unique situation Canadians have faced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The unique circumstances of this global outbreak, which have for many Canadians resulted in serious illness and death, intensified economic uncertainties, altered family and lifestyle dynamics, and generated or exacerbated feelings of loneliness and social dislocation, rightly led the Royal Society of Canada’s COVID-19 Taskforce to consider the strains and other negative impacts on individual, group, and community mental health. With the central role that police too often play in the lives of individuals in mental and (or) emotional crisis, we were tasked with exploring what can be reasonably said about the state of our current knowledge of police responses to persons with mental illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Huey
- University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | | | | | | | | | - Adam D. Vaughan
- Texas State University, School of Criminal Justice and Criminology, San Marcos, TX USA
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Abstract
The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world. With a substantial number of inmates diagnosed with mental illness, substance use, or both, various diversion strategies have been developed to help decrease and avoid criminalization of individuals with mental illness. This article focuses primarily on the first three Sequential Intercept Model intercept points as related to jail diversion and reviews types of diversion programs, research outcomes for diversion programs, and important components that contribute to successful diversion.
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Abstract
De-institutionalization of mental health patients has evolved, over nearly 3 generations now, to a status quo of mental health patients experiencing myriad contacts with first-responders, primarily police, in lieu of care. The current institutions in which these patients rotate through are psychiatric emergency units, emergency rooms, jails, and prisons. Although more police are now specially trained to respond to calls that involve mental health patients, the criminalization of persons with mental illness has been steadily increasing over the past several decades. There have also been deaths. The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) model fosters mental health acumen among first responders, and facilitates collaboration among first responders, mental health professionals, and mental health patients and their families. Here, we review some modern, large city configurations of CIT, the co-responder model, the mitigating effects of critically situated community-based programs, as well as barriers to the success of joint efforts to better address this pressing problem.
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Strassle CG. CIT in small municipalities: Officer-level outcomes. BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES & THE LAW 2019; 37:342-352. [PMID: 30746747 DOI: 10.1002/bsl.2395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2018] [Revised: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 12/26/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Research on the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) as a method to deal with mental illness in policing encounters has primarily focused on officers from large urban areas. The current study examined officer-level outcomes in a non-urban geographical setting using a pre/post-CIT training design. The sample included 46 police officers from seven departments that would be considered rural and 13 that would be classified as suburban. Officers completed scales to gauge change in mental illness attitudes at the beginning and end of their one-week CIT training. CIT training resulted in reductions in stigmatic attitudes with seven large effect sizes (ranging from η2 = .24 to .59) across the two measures. The findings from this research are a direct response to the call for greater diversity in the size of police settings in the CIT literature and serve to expand the empirical base for CIT in relation to officer-level outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla G Strassle
- Department of Psychology, School of Behavioral Sciences and Education, York College of Pennsylvania, York, PA, 17403, USA
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Rodgers M, Thomas S, Dalton J, Harden M, Eastwood A. Police-related triage interventions for mental health-related incidents: a rapid evidence synthesis. HEALTH SERVICES AND DELIVERY RESEARCH 2019. [DOI: 10.3310/hsdr07200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
Police officers are often the first responders to mental health-related incidents and, consequently, can become a common gateway to care. The volume of such calls is an increasing challenge.
Objective
What is the evidence base for models of police-related mental health triage (often referred to as ‘street triage’) interventions?
Design
Rapid evidence synthesis.
Participants
Individuals perceived to be experiencing mental ill health or in a mental health crisis.
Interventions
Police officers responding to calls involving individuals experiencing perceived mental ill health or a mental health crisis, in the absence of suspected criminality or a criminal charge.
Main outcome measures
Inclusion was not restricted by outcome.
Data sources
Eleven bibliographic databases (i.e. Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts, Criminal Justice Abstracts, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PAIS® Index, PsycINFO, Scopus, Social Care Online, Social Policy & Practice, Social Sciences Citation Index and Social Services Abstracts) and multiple online sources were searched for relevant systematic reviews and qualitative studies from inception to November 2017. Additional primary studies reporting quantitative data published from January 2016 were also sought.
Review methods
The three-part rapid evidence synthesis incorporated metasynthesis of the effects of street triage-type intervention models, rapid synthesis of UK-relevant qualitative evidence on implementation and the overall synthesis.
Results
Five systematic reviews, eight primary studies reporting quantitative data and eight primary studies reporting qualitative data were included. Most interventions involved police officers working in partnership with mental health professionals. These interventions were generally valued by staff and showed some positive effects on procedures (such as rates of detention) and resources, although these results were not entirely consistent and not all important outcomes were measured. Most of the evidence was at risk of multiple biases caused by design flaws and/or a lack of reporting of methods, which might affect the results.
Limitations
All primary research was conducted in England, so may not be generalisable to the whole of the UK. Discussion of health equity issues was largely absent from the evidence.
Conclusions
Most published evidence that aims to describe and evaluate various models of street triage interventions is limited in scope and methodologically weak. Several systematic reviews and recent studies have called for a prospective, comprehensive and streamlined collection of a wider variety of data to evaluate the impact of these interventions. This rapid evidence synthesis expands on these recommendations to outline detailed implications for research, which includes clearer articulation of the intervention’s objectives, measurement of quantitative outcomes beyond section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 [Great Britain. Mental Health Act 1983. Section 136. London: The Stationery Office; 1983 URL: www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1983/20/section/136 (accessed October 2017)] (i.e. rates, places of safety and processing data) and outcomes that are most important to the police, mental health and social care services and service users. Evaluations should take into consideration shorter-, medium- and longer-term effects. Whenever possible, study designs should have an appropriate concurrent comparator, for example by comparing the pragmatic implementation of collaborative street triage models with models that emphasise specialist training of police officers. The collection of qualitative data should capture dissenting views as well as the views of advocates. Any future cost-effectiveness analysis of these interventions should evaluate the impact across police, health and social services.
Funding
The National Institute for Health Research Health Services and Delivery Research programme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Rodgers
- Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD), University of York, York, UK
| | - Sian Thomas
- Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD), University of York, York, UK
| | - Jane Dalton
- Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD), University of York, York, UK
| | - Melissa Harden
- Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD), University of York, York, UK
| | - Alison Eastwood
- Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD), University of York, York, UK
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Kubiak S, Shamrova D, Comartin E. Enhancing knowledge of adolescent mental health among law enforcement: Implementing youth-focused crisis intervention team training. EVALUATION AND PROGRAM PLANNING 2019; 73:44-52. [PMID: 30508702 DOI: 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2018.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2018] [Revised: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
This study explores the feasibility, acceptability, fidelity, and outcomes of a youth version of the Crisis Intervention Team training (CIT-Y). This intervention is designed to keep youth with a mental health problem out of the criminal/legal system by equipping police officers with developmentally appropriate information and techniques. Whereas much is known about the adult-focused CIT training, little is known about the youth-focused training. This preliminary investigation uses multiple methods (training observations, officer interviews, and pre/post-tests) to assesses the implementation of CIT-Y in two Midwest counties. Multiple 8-hour training sessions were offered in both counties with 127 officers participating and completing the pre/post measure. The findings of this study confirmed that CIT-Y training was feasible in these counties and acceptable to the officers who participated. Outcomes from the pre/post-tests show that 86% of officers positively changed their knowledge and attitudes regarding youth with mental health problems. Interviews revealed a positive impact on officers' reported behaviors. While this preliminary investigation of CIT-Y showed positive outcomes, recommendations for enhancing the curriculum and subsequent research are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheryl Kubiak
- Wayne State University, School of Social Work, United States
| | - Daria Shamrova
- Wichita State University, School of Social Work, United States
| | - Erin Comartin
- Wayne State University, School of Social Work, United States.
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Pinals DA, Felthous AR. Introduction to this double issue: Jail diversion and collaboration across the justice continuum. BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES & THE LAW 2017; 35:375-379. [PMID: 29271027 DOI: 10.1002/bsl.2322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2017] [Revised: 09/06/2017] [Accepted: 09/06/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Debra A Pinals
- Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Director, Program in Psychiatry, Law, and Ethics, Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, 4250 Plymouth Rd, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Alan R Felthous
- Professor & Director, Forensic Psychiatry Division Department of Psychiatry Behavioral Neuroscience, Saint Louis University School of Medicine
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