Mental Health
INTRODUCTION: MENTAL HEALTH INTERVENTION TEAM
The Mental Health Intervention Team (MHIT) is a 24 month pilot program that commenced in July, 2007. As a result of a study of best practices across the world, the MHIT has formed its basis on the Crisis Intervention Team which bears its origin in Memphis, USA. The MHIT will form a partnership with NSW Health and other agencies to achieve its objectives, modified from the Crisis Intervention Team, to meet the needs and operating environment of the NSW Police Force. The Key Stakeholders are NSW Police Force, NSW Health, and Non Government Mental Health Organizations. The NSW Governor, Professor Marie Bashir has agreed to be the Patron of this program.
The aims of the project include:
- Reducing the risk of injury to police and mental health consumers when dealing with mental health related incidents;
- Improving awareness amongst front line police of the risks involved in the interaction between police and mental health consumers;
- Improved collaboration with other government and non-government agencies in the response to, and management of, mental health crisis incidents, and;
- Reducing the time taken by police in the handover of mental health consumers into the health care system.
The Pilot is going to be trialed in Eastern Beaches, Penrith and Tuggerah Lakes Local Area Commands. The project is carried out on behalf of the Commissioner’s Executive Team with sponsorship provided by Deputy Commissioner David Owens.
A four day education package will address front line issues involving mental health and seeks to develop the skills, knowledge and abilities of frontline general duties police to better equip them with tools to efficiently and effectively manage incidents in which mental health is an issue.
Numerous external health agencies and field experts have contributed to the creation of the package. The aim of the package is to educate police with respect to identifying behaviors in the field indicative of mental illness, and provide them with tools such as communication strategies, risk assessment and crisis intervention techniques, and to gain an understanding of the current Mental Health Act 2007, as well as the Memorandum of Understanding between the NSWPF, Ambulance Service and Department of Health.
Training will commence on February 25, 2008 and the police that have completed the four day education package will be qualified as specialist Mental Health Intervention Officers in the field at the three trial LAC’s. Those officers that have been accredited will be clearly identified by the wearing of a distinct MHIT Badge to be worn above their name plate. Charles Sturt University has been engaged by the NSWPF to independently evaluate the MHIT, through its Centre for Inland Health, the school of Policing Studies and the Australian Graduate School of Policing.
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