Comment: Police cannot be expected to deal with crisis situations alone

Police and mental health responders have different skillsets they can bring to a crisis situation and, when properly combined, can improve outcomes for all concerned, including those experiencing the crisis, writes Dr Vicky Conway.

Internationally, it is accepted that a ‘police only’ response to mental illnesses crises is not best practice, and indeed may in fact escalate, rather than deescalate, a situation. Picture: Dan Linehan

Mental illness and policing are inextricably connected. 

While it can be hard to say with certainty, estimates from various jurisdictions tend to come to a similar conclusion — at least a third of those the police interact with have a recognised mental illness.