TUESDAY, 21 NOVEMBER, 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: PHOTO ATTACHED OF SUZANNE SMITH, PARTNERSHIP INSPECTOR, VAL JOHNSON AND FIONA SMITH FROM NHS TAYSIDE WITH POLICE SCOTLAND SERGEANTS AND INSPECTORS.

Partnership working supports community mental health services

A partnership project between NHS Tayside and Police Scotland’s Tayside Division to train police officers to help people experiencing mental illness in the community has been hailed a success.

Since the pilot scheme started in Tayside in March, more than 75 police officers have received training from NHS Tayside mental health professionals to support the Community Triage Pilot. Police Scotland officers are often a first point of contact to provide assistance to people who may be experiencing distress or mental illness in the community.

Partnership Inspector Suzanne Smith said, “Dealing with people, carers and families affected by mental ill health has become a daily occurrence for police officers. This training has been invaluable to ensure that officers understand their powers, and the services offered by NHS Tayside.”

Val Johnson, Head of NHS Tayside Adult Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Services said, “The principles of community triage involve mental health services providing assessment or advice to police officers who are dealing with people experiencing a mental health crisis in the community. These individuals will have made an initial direct contact with Police Scotland.

“The goal is to assist police officers to make the best decision about how to help the individual without necessarily having to take them to a mental health facility for assessment. A response is provided in the community more quickly and should lead to better outcomes for people in crisis.”

When officers are called to individuals in the community who are in crisis or unwell with a mental illness, they will call the Crisis Response and Home Treatment Team who are able to access information about the person and provide advice to officers. Both services can then develop an agreed plan to support the person in the community or, if required, arrange for appropriate further assessment.

Dr David Christmas, Consultant Psychiatrist with NHS Tayside said, “The scheme can also reduce the need to use the Mental Health Act to take people to a ‘place of safety’, which often ends up with someone being taken into custody and removed from their homes and community which can be distressing in itself.

“By adopting a multi-agency approach to mental illness and crisis, it is hoped to minimise barriers to people receiving care at the same time as ensuring that appropriate care is delivered rapidly in the community. If it is possible to reduce the need for people to be assessed at hospital, it may be possible to reduce the overall number of people requiring hospital admission to manage a crisis.”

Information from the first six months of the pilot shows that there were 370 community triage referrals from across Tayside of which only 96 people required further assessment at a mental health facility. This provided an improved outcome for the individuals concerned and a more effective response for those requiring face-to-face mental health assessment.

Contact:

Gaynyr Dickson

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 424138