Positive interactions between individuals with menatl illness and the police

Positive

interactions

between

individuals with a

mental illness

and the police

Sara Lapsley, MA, CCC

BC Forensic Psychiatric Hospital

CREST.BD

2 Social Impact of SPMI

The Police Project

• The Police Project was commissioned

by the MHCC and conducted

between 2009-2011

• Goal: To improve the understanding

of how people with mental illness

perceive and interact with the police


The Police Project

• Criteria: Individuals who live with

schizophrenia; schizo-affective disorder,

or bipolar disorder and have had direct

contact with the police.

• Method: 60 completed interviews; 244 people completed the survey; 28 people took part in focus groups


The Police Project

Participatory Action Approach:

• Promote community engagement

• Use of Peer Researchers


The Police Project • 2 in 5 people with MI have been arrested in their

lifetime

• 1 in 7 referrals to emergency inpatient services involve the police

• 1 in 20 police dispatch encounters involve people with mental health issues

• People with mental illness are over-represented in police shootings, stun gun incidents, and fatalities


The Police Project

• Survey participants indicated that they were satisfied, rather than dissatisfied, with the way in which police handled previous situations (especially in regards to mental health crises)

• A slight majority of interview participants rated their previous contacts with the police as a positive experience overall.


Positive Interactions with the Police

• Professionalism

• Harm Reduction

• Helpful Behaviours


Professionalism Individuals with mental illness appreciated when police were knowledgeable and conducted themselves professionally in their traditional role

“You can count on a quick response, and usually the best of the situation to happen…they give you hope because you get to see episodes of compassion and patience….They are very knowledgeable…they have their training and experience. The police are there to help the Vancouver people.”


Harm Reduction May involve transporting an acutely ill individual to the hospital or into temporary custody during a mental health crisis. These interactions were perceived as more difficult, but in retrospect, participants expressed gratitude that they were contained and taken for medical treatment.

“There was a part of me that was crying out for help, and the woman police officer was the help that I needed.”

“In some situations they really did protect the worst from happening to me.”


Helpful Behaviour Participants expressed appreciation when the police offered physical support such as food and blankets. Being listened to and shown compassion was also helpful in calming people when they were agitated.

“They treated me with respect…when I said things, they didn’t disregard what I was saying as if I was a nutcase.”

“They listened to me, they talked to me enough to calm me down…and I always understood what they were saying.”


Caveats • Survey participants were more likely to rate police

performance across several domains as “poor” and less likely to rate police performance as “good” in comparison to the general population of BC.

• Participants from countries with oppressive governments expressed more suspicion of the police

• Diversity in experiences: most participants had some good experiences and some bad.

• “Some cops are kind and helpful; other ones can be cocky and aggressive, but I guess overall, it’s a healthy balance.”


Participant Recommendations 90% of interview participants felt it was “very” or “extremely” important to train police officers to handle situations that involve people with mental illness

a) Effective communication skills

b) Understanding mental illness and it’s effects

c) Non-violent conflict resolution skills

d) Treating people with compassion and respect


Further Recommendations • Building stronger linkages between police and mental

health communities

• Recognizing and rewarding positive police practices

• Increasing accountability and oversight of the police

• Ensuring that health care professions are involved in responding to mental health related calls for police services

• Create positive role models among police officers


The End

http://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/sites/default/files/Law_How_People_with_Mental_Illness_Perceive_Interact_Police_Study_ENG_1_0_1.pdf

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Positive interactions between individuals with menatl illness and the police

Healthcare

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