None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Police and ambulance services are increasingly the first responders to people in mental distress as mental-health related calls to 111 increase and mental health services struggle to meet the significant increases in demand. Apart from the demands this places on limited police resources, the lack of timely mental health expertise during a crisis negatively affects service users. The objective of this study is to evaluate the implementation of an innovative mental health co-response team (CRT) that is being piloted in the Wellington region. Inspired by successful initiatives in Australia and the United Kingdom, the pilot involves staff from mental health services, Wellington Free Ambulance and the Wellington District Police being jointly deployed to respond to 111 calls made by or about someone requiring help in a mental health crisis. From March 2020 the CRT pilot has been providing front-line, first-response capability for the provision of in-situ mental health assessments and therapeutic care in a home or community setting rather than the person being transported to an emergency department (ED) or police station for mental health triaging. As part of the evaluation, we are conducting qualitative research (face-to-face semi-structured interviews) with CRT service users and family/whanau about their views and experiences of the CRT. Our evaluation study will help service planners understand the benefits and gaps of CRT, including from the service user's perspective.
Interventions
The exposure is the utilisation of a CRT service. Since March 2020, the CRT, consisting of a police officer, paramedic and a mental health professional, have been jointly deployed to provide a wrap-around service for mental health 111 calls. The team provides timely ‘on scene’ support to people in mental distress. Objectives of the CRT include enhanced care for people suffering mental distress in the community and a reduced flow into mental health services and emergency departments. We are recru
The exposure is the utilisation of a CRT service. Since March 2020, the CRT, consisting of a police officer, paramedic and a mental health professional, have been jointly deployed to provide a wrap-around service for mental health 111 calls. The team provides timely ‘on scene’ support to people in mental distress. Objectives of the CRT include enhanced care for people suffering mental distress in the community and a reduced flow into mental health services and emergency departments. We are recruiting approximately 20 people who have been exposed to the CRT ( direct users and their family members) and we will conduct qualitative interviews exploring their experiences. The interviews will be face-to-face (or via zoom or by telephone) and last for about 30 minutes. The CRT service users will be contacted within approximately 2 weeks of their CRT use to invite them to participate in the study.
Sponsors
University of Otago Wellington
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
CRT users and family members/whanau who are: - 18 years or more of age - Have had face-to-face contact with the CRT within the last 6 months - Are able to give informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
CRT users and family/whanau who: - Are under the age of 18 years - Have had contact with the CRT but not face to face. - Had CRT contact more than 6 months prior to the recruitment period
Outcome results
None listed