In this article, we discuss the importance of lived experienced voices in shaping a new review into policing and mental health.
What is the ‘policing and mental health’ review?
His Majesty’s Inspectorate for Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) is currently undertaking a review of policing and mental health in Scotland as part of their 3-year scrutiny plan. The review considers how prepared Police Scotland are to meet the needs of those experiencing poor mental health, the impact of police interactions, and whether the police are working effectively with other agencies and services to provide support and assistance.
What is VOX’s role?
At Voices of Experience (VOX) – Scotland’s national member-led mental health collective advocacy organisation – we believe fundamentally in the value of lived experience perspectives. As members of the Advisory Panel for the review, we are committed to amplifying the voices of those who have faced mental health difficulties and ensuring their experiences of interacting with the police can bring about positive change.
For many, a police interaction can itself be a traumatising, or re-traumatising, event. For others, a mental health ‘intervention’ can be supportive – particularly when there is an effective link with wider services that can provide tailored, consistent support after the event.
What lived experienced perspectives have been shared so far?
At VOX, we are currently engaging with our members and partner organisations through a series of discussion sessions to understand the barriers and challenges people have faced when interacting with the police. Our members can see a huge value in talking about their experiences, with those who have participated so far stating:
Thanks for giving me the chance to tell [HMICS] about what’s happened to me.
We feel it is important to share these experiences to hopefully help others as the police interactions often added more stress to already very difficult situations.
While still early in the process of gathering experiences, a key emerging theme is the need for more thorough and frequent training on mental health for police officers which includes hearing the perspectives of those with lived experience.
Ultimately, it is by listening to those whose needs have not been met by the police in the past that better approaches can be established moving forward. This review provides a crucial opportunity to ensure that lessons are learned, and action taken.
Commenting on the review, HMICS lead inspector Brian McInulty said:
Our review is focussed on helping Police Scotland improve the delivery of their mental health related policing services, so that people experiencing poor mental health received the best possible quality of service.
VOX Manager Wendy McAuslan said:
We greatly welcome the opportunity to contribute to this review and, in doing so, put our members’ voices at the heart of influencing positive change. It is vital that Police Scotland listen to lived experienced perspectives and use this feedback to ensure they can better meet the needs of those with mental health difficulties in the future.
For more information on VOX’s contribution to the review, please contact VOX Manager Wendy McAuslan on wmcauslan@mentalhealth.org.uk
Generally speaking, I have found that the police more often than not, have had a more compassionate and humane approach than qualified mental health assessment team staff. Despite this, having previous traumatic experiences with those in positions of authority, it feels threatening and punitive when the police have become involved in situations that were previously managed by qualified mental health professionals. Similar to what has been recorded by the STOPSIM campaign in England, involving the police is basically criminalising my emotional distress reinforcing beliefs that there is something ‘bad’ about me, first originally developed in childhood. As someone who is generally terrified of authority and overly compliant, particularly in the area of the law, knowing involvement with the police is documented and can be accessed by any officer feels as if I have a black mark against my name. This was evidenced when I attempted to join a police music group (I will refrain from being more specific about what this was for confidentiality purposes. This was for lay people and police and not a working role for the police). After attending for around 2 months and police checks were carried out, I was informed that I could not be a part of this because of past involvement which has only ever been over concerns for my safety and never towards anyone else or for any criminal or threatening behaviour. As I have never been in ‘trouble’ with the police, this felt like discrimination, exclusionary, and humiliating since I have never broken the law.
At times when police have been called for well-being concerns there have been times when they have taken a very authoritarian stance. I experience this as threatening and again this evokes an internal fear response but usually, one officer takes a more compassionate approach. I was referring to this compassionate approach when I mentioned that overall I found them more helpful than qualified mental health assessment teams. I have noticed that the officer who has taken a more authoritarian approach seems to take a different stance and I wonder if this is because they have witnessed me as my true self when I do not feel threatened by the more compassionate officer. It has been reassuring that some police officers have changed their attitude when in attendance and have had the integrity to own their previous approaches and even on occasion, apologise for their lack of understanding. If only all mental health professionals were able to also have this ability to reposition their views and attitudes.
So, although I have generally found that in the end, the police have usually been better at supporting my mental health I find this extremely concerning given that this is not their role and I am not a criminal nor do I have any aggressive or violent tendencies even when I have been my most unwell. I strongly believe that the police should not be called so easily when there is a concern for someone’s well-being. As was the case in days gone by I feel there should be a dedicated mental health service that attends, perhaps with police on standby for any immediate life-threatening situations.
That said, this is a tricky area because often the approach from mental health assessment teams has made me feel worse about myself when I have approached them in crisis and often attitudes have implied that I am not worthy of existing on this earth. This has at times escalated the situation leading to family or friends calling the police with serious concerns for my life and interestingly have been better at supporting me and bringing me back to a place of hope.
Perhaps the assessment teams could take some training from the police on how best to manage certain presentations as this should not be a job for the police at all times.