Cops, Clinicians, or Both? Collaborative Approaches to Responding to Behavioral Health Emergencies

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Social Justice
• Health Policy

Background:

• Behavioral health crises are inadequately addressed in emergency departments (EDs).
• These crises contribute to police shootings and jail bookings, disproportionately affecting people of color due to racism and implicit bias.
• Systemic approaches are needed for effective reform.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review best practices for law enforcement crisis response.
• To outline a continuum-of-crisis care model as an alternative to law enforcement and ED involvement.
• To offer strategies for collaboration between law enforcement and clinicians.

Main Methods:

• Policy review of best practices.
• Outline of a comprehensive crisis care model.
• Discussion of policy considerations for implementation.

Main Results:

• Identified key components for a continuum-of-crisis care model.
• Provided strategies for law enforcement and clinician collaboration.
• Highlighted policy considerations for successful implementation.

Conclusions:

• Effective response to behavioral health emergencies requires a comprehensive, systemic approach.
• Reducing unnecessary law enforcement contact and ED use is crucial.
• Collaboration, policy reform, and health equity are essential for improving crisis care.