Police need training to deal with mentally ill: Report

The report is the result of a comprehensive survey of Canadian police organizations, a literature review, an international comparative review of police learning programs and direct interviews with a variety of police and mental health professionals.

Key training/education recommendations include the following:

• that police learning be designed and delivered by a combination of police personnel, adult educators, mental health professionals, mental health advocacy organizations and people living with mental illness;
• more uniform inclusion of non-physical interventions (e.g., verbal communications, interpersonal skills, de-escalation, defusing and calming techniques) in use-of-force training;
• the incorporation of anti-stigma education to challenge the attitudinal barriers that lead to discriminatory action;
• that provincial governments establish policing standards that include provision for mandatory basic and periodic police training qualification/requalification for interactions with people with mental illness;
• provision of training on the role of police, mental health professionals, family and community supports in encounters with persons with mental illness; and
• that training provides a better understanding of the symptoms of mental illness and the ability to assess the influence a mental illness might be having on a person’s behaviour and comprehension.

“This report is the result of very positive and collaborative work between Canada’s policing and mental health communities,” says MHCC president and CEO Louise Bradley. “It is through this continued work together that we will ensure the best possible outcomes for police personnel and people with mental illness.”

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• MHCC unveils mental health strategy