Nurse-led study examines police deployments during mental health crises

Residents in structurally disadvantaged areas support co-deployment of police officers alongside health professionals to respond to mental health crises, according to a nurse-led study. Published recently in the Journal of Community Safety and Well-Being, the researchers explored perspectives and preferences on co-deployment programs in areas where mental health distress is more common, mental health services are less accessible and involvement with police is more frequent and fraught. Many respondents suggested police presence is necessary when responding to a mental health crisis because of the risk of violence, but said they were uncomfortable with police involvement. The discomfort with police involvement was higher among younger and Black residents. (Newswise release, 10/12/23)