It's hoped the new model will ease demand on frontline police while better supporting people experiencing mental health crises. Photo: 123RF
Getting things wrong at the start of a mental health crisis makes everything worse for patients, mental health workers and emergency services staff, an expert says.
People calling 111 in mental distress will soon be met by a joint response involving police, mental health professionals, ambulance officers, and in some cases, iwi.
On Wednesday Police Minister Ginny Andersen announced a five-year plan to implement a new co-response model for mental health callouts across the country.
Andersen said nearly 10 percent of 111 calls were mental health related and the new model would ease demand on frontline police while better supporting people experiencing mental health crises.
Mental Health Foundation chief executive Shaun Robinson said when people called 111 in vulnerable states, their immediate safety and long-term recovery were both at stake.
He said getting things wrong at the initial point of contact could make a difficult situation worse for patients, emergency staff and healthcare workers alike.
"If someone arrives at a mental health service or at an A and E and what's just happened to them is that they've been put in a police car, brought in by police which can be a very frightening thing, they're likely to be even more agitated, even more untrusting of what's going on for them," Robinson said.
Robinson said the high prevalence of Māori in mental health statistics made iwi inclusion in the response teams a crucial factor.
"The more someone looks like me and can talk to me in my own experience and language the better. It's absolutely vital that iwi and Māori are really front and centre in developing this co-response model," Robinson said.
Wellington police district mental health lead Jim Dunlop said trials of the scheme had been an overwhelming success.
"It's being able to give somebody the right care at the right time. The feedback from the people that we've been to see in their times of distress has shown that it's far less traumatic and [there] is a greater sense of safety for those people involved," Dunlop said.
Wellington Free Ambulance chief executive Dave Robinson says the trial period has shown the benefits of a collaborative approach. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Wellington Free Ambulance chief executive Dave Robinson said the increase in mental illness in the community was reaching almost pandemic-like proportions.
He said the Free Ambulance's involvement in the pilot scheme over the last three years had shown the benefit of a collaborative response to mental health callouts.
"Our primary area of expertise is in health. Other times safety is a requirement, both for the attendees, but also for the patients as well. That's where we really leverage off the skills of our colleagues in police and also off the very specialist expertise of those mental health workers who we stand alongside," Robinson said.
Andersen said cost estimates of national implementation of the co-response model would be determined by March next year.
The scheme has already been been piloted in six districts ahead of being adopted nationally.