Mental health nurses to work from POLICE STATIONS in massive change to deal with Australia's mental health crisis
- Mental health nurses to accompany police to help with psychiatric emergencies
- NSW Government to invest $6.1million to help police with mental health crises
- Last year, NSW Police responded to 55,000 mental health emergencies
- Expansion comes following successful trial at St George Police Area Command
Mental health nurses will accompany police officers on jobs to help deal with psychiatric emergencies as part of a $6.1million program to help deal with Australia's mental health crisis
Minister for Mental Health Bronnie Taylor and Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott announced on Wednesday an additional 36 specialist mental health clinicians across 10 Sydney police stations.
The NSW Government will invest a further $6.1million investment in the Police, Ambulance and Clinical Early Response (PACER program) which supports police and paramedics in mental health emergencies.
Last year alone, NSW Police responded to a total of 55,000 mental health emergencies with the support of PACER.
The NSW Government will invest a further $6.1million investment in the Police, Ambulance and Clinical Early Response (PACER program) which supports police and paramedics in mental health emergencies
Minister for Mental Health Bronnie Taylor (pictured) and Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott announced on Wednesday an additional 36 specialist mental health clinicians across 10 Sydney police stations
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'This ground breaking collaboration embeds mental health experts with first responders to support them to appropriately recognise, assess, and respond to mental health emergencies live at the scene,' Mrs Taylor said.
'The pilot program has had incredible results with significant reductions in emergency department presentations, police and ambulance time on scene.
'This approach has enormous potential to change lives, with the community getting more appropriate care at the time when they need it most.'
The expansion comes following a successful trial at the St George Police Area Command.
Mr Elliott welcomed the investment of the program which has vastly improved police time on-scene of emergencies by up to 45 minutes and freed up time for officers.
'During the pilot program, police time-on-scene was reduced by an average of 45 minutes, not only supporting first responders to appropriately recognise and respond to psychiatric incidents in the community, but also freeing up officers to serve the community in other areas,' Mr Elliott said.
'The presence and availability of a PACER clinician in a police station increases the knowledge and understanding of mental health issues amongst officers
'This initiative is crucial, now more than ever, following the devastating 'Black Summer' bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic, which have affected us all.'
The PACER program will expand to Campbelltown, Nepean, Northern Beaches, Sutherland Shire, Blacktown, Eastern Beaches, Kuring-gai, Metro Combined consisting of Kings Cross/Surry Hills/City of Sydney, South Sydney and Bankstown Police Area Commands.
Recruitment for the specialist mental health clinicians will begin from July 2020.
Police officers will be accompanied with mental health nurses in the event of a mental health emergency
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