The police withdrawal from mental health callouts has to stop in its tracks

Moving from a police response to a health response to mental health crises is good in theory. But without anything to fill the gap, it’s irresponsible and dangerous, argues Mental Health Foundation head Shaun Robinson.We rely on our police force to keep us safe from harm and danger. It’s a job they largely do well and one we’re grateful for. However, a decision about the sorts of callouts they’ll attend could put tens of thousands of New Zealanders at risk. Of all calls made to police, 11% are mental health-related – that’s one mental health callout every seven minutes. Calling 111 is often someone’s first port of call when they, or someone they love, is experiencing a mental health crisis.The other option is the local mental health crisis assessment team who, it has been well documented, are often strained and have limited capacity. The police provide a critical role in helping people access mental health support and ensuring their safety during what is often one of the toughest momen...