Police take a backseat in tackling mental health crisis
Better mental health support is at the forefront of the Victorian government’s move to make paramedics the first responders to mental health callouts instead of police and Protective Security Officers (PSOs). Health Economist, Tan Nguyen says when a vulnerable person is having a mental health episode, situations are volatile and can rapidly worsen without appropriate support. “These new protocols will enable expertly trained paramedics and mental health clinicians to play a greater role in mental health support, and more critically, facilitate appropriate care pathways,” Tan says. “It’s the perfect example of major system reform to improve efficiencies across law enforcement, social care, and the health system - diverting mental healthcare from emergency department presentations, police stations and in the worst-case scenario, prisons.” In 2024/25, there were around 70,000 mental health-related emergency department presentations, and in 2025 alone, Victoria Police responded to 59,014 mental health-related callouts, one every 10 minutes.
Breaking story from https://psnews.com.au/overhaul-of-victorian-mental-health-callout-system-to-free-up-police/186003/
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