A focus for mental health training for police

Journal of Criminological Research, Policy and Practice,Volume 3, Issue 2, June 2017. Purpose To propose a focus for mental health training efforts to better equip officers to provide interventions and supports to help facilitate improved outcomes for people experiencing mental health crises. Design/methodology/approach A reflection on key evidence relating to mental health training programs delivered to police, focussing on Australia, the United States and Canada. Findings While there are a number of similarities in the core content of mental health training programs offered internationally, the availability and uptake of training across jurisdictions remains piecemeal and idiosyncratic. Police officers report a strong preference for hands-on experiential learning; this has immediate and direct relevance to their operational duties, and is consistent with core principles of andragogy. While all police employees require mental health training, specialised mental health training programs should clearly be reserved for a select group of officers who volunteer after acquiring sufficient operational experience. Research limitations/implications Priorities should centre on measuring the effectiveness of mental health training packages and discerning the active elements associated with changes in police skills and confidence, as well as identifying elements that support improved outcomes for people who experience mental illness who have contact with the police. Practical impli...
Source: Journal of Criminological Research, Policy and Practice - Category: Criminology Source Type: research