Victorian Police and Eastern Health Mental Health Leading Mental Health Services in a New Direction

Cathy CooperSenior Mental Health Clinician

Sergeant Scott McLeanVictoria Police

The PartnersEastern Health

Victoria Police

BackgroundRecurring Issues:

Increasing numbers of S351 clients in ED

Long waits for police on scene and in Emergency Departments

Increased demand on community crisis services

Need for improved working relationships between health and police

Identified need for a combined and responsive approach

- advice, assessment, education and training.

PARTS Eastern Health Mental Health & Victoria Police

Collaborative project

Operates 7 days per week

1430 – 2230hrs

Provides Phone Based & Face to Face Assessments and Secondary Consultations

Education for Police & other service providers

Core aims: Provide a client centred approach to early intervention or acute

assessment Provide a responsive mental health / police response to an acute mental

health issue in the community via immediate phone access and if necessary a face to face assessment

Build capacity within the local police force and MAS to deal with mental health issues more effectively by the provision of ongoing education and modelling

Decrease the amount of presentations to local emergency departments Reframe section 351 presentations from being a policing issue to one of a

health issue Reduce the amount of time police spend in emergency departments Develop management plans for recidivist offenders and follow up visits to

build trusting relationship with this client group, their families and local communities

Build a robust, integrated emergency system to respond effectively to people in urgent need

The Process

1• Call from primary police unit identifying client

needing urgent mental health assessment

2• assessment of the type of response required

ascertained by PARTS MH clinician

3• Assessment completed and referral on to

appropriate service

SERVICE PROVISION DATA OUTCOMES

Over 1400 phone assessments

More than 1100 face to face assessments

12 Police education daysMultiple complex case

presentations and development of crisis management plans

Ongoing education to other service providers

Positive feedback from carers/family members,

More respectful and less traumatising experiences for clients

Increased education for police

Reduced presentations in ED’s.

Reduced time spent in ED’s by police

BENEFITS FOR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS

Mental Health Presentations (that don't require medical intervention )

Reduction in waiting times

Available expert consultancy

Improved capacity building with emergency services

= Reduction in aggression and violence

Thank you QUESTIONS??