Police Communications Centre Mental Health Liaison Service: Enhancing outcomes for people in mental health crisis.

Objective: To describe the Police Communication Centre Mental Health Liaison Service (PCC MHLS), a novel mental health service embedded in a Queensland Police Service (QPS) communication centre which provides real-time information and advice to police as first responders to people in mental health crisis.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of referrals received from 1st January 2023 to 31st December 2023 was conducted. Descriptive statistics were calculated for consumer and service episode characteristics and reported outcomes.

Results: The service received 3549 referrals with a daily mean of 9.97. Mean age at referral was 38.11 years (SD 15.86, range 6-102), and most consumers were male (60.4%). 41 percent did not have a current or historic psychiatric diagnosis and 28.1% were open to the public mental health service. The most reported presenting problem was suicide/self-harm (45.2%). An Emergency Examination Authority was enacted in 28.3% of cases, and 20.9% of consumers were referred to mental health services.

Conclusion: Results suggest some consumers may be experiencing psychological distress rather than diagnosed mental illness. The PCC MHLS connects consumers with the most appropriate services beyond hospital emergency departments and provides a novel and effective mechanism for real-time support for first responses to people in mental health crisis.