Latest news with #PoliceMentalHealthResponseChangeProgramme
Scoop
2 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
Mental Health Response Change Programme Phase Two Update
Phase Two of the Police Mental Health Response Change Programme is set to be extended with implementation across a third and final group of districts from Monday. This includes: • Health NZ districts: Northland, Taranaki, Whanganui, and MidCentral • Police districts: Northland, Central • Health NZ specific areas: Tokoroa and Taumarunui (Waikato), Taupō (Lakes), Wairoa (Hawke's Bay), and Waitaki and Southern Lakes (Southern) • Police specific areas within districts: Taupo and Tokoroa (Bay of Plenty), Wairoa (Eastern), and Central Lakes and Waitaki (Southern) Police Assistant Commissioner Mike Johnson says we remain committed to our joint efforts towards making sure people have access to the right help at the right time, which works best for them. 'Police have always, and will always, respond when there is an immediate risk to life or change is about an increased health-led response, enabling our staff more time to get back into our communities do the work that only Police can. Health NZ Director of Specialist Mental Health and Addiction Karla Bergquist says a range of mental health support is available for those who need it. 'This change is about ensuring people requiring mental health support receive the right care at the right time, while maintaining the safety and wellbeing of patients and our staff. 'I'd like to assure the public there is a range of services to help people in mental distress or those who are concerned about the mental health of whānau. 'If a person is in serious mental distress or crisis, support is available from their local crisis team [1]. If it's a life-threatening situation or someone is in immediate danger of harming themselves or others, contact emergency services on 111.' Karla added, 'I'd like to acknowledge all our teams for their work to prepare for and implement these changes across the motu. It has been positive to hear from our districts that there are strong local partnerships between police and health to support Phase Two implementation, which has generally gone well.' Notes: Phase Two of the mental health response changes began on 14 April and have been implemented in stages. Phase two changes include: 60-minute handover of detained persons in EDs – Police who have detained a person under section 109 of the Mental Health Act and transported them for an assessment, or are responding at the request of health staff for an assessment under section 41 or 110c, will remain in the ED for a maximum of one hour before departing – unless there is an immediate risk to life or safety. Changes to mental health assessments in custody will ensure people in distress are assessed appropriately, preferably in a health setting. If someone is placed under the Mental Health Act while in a Police custody suite, they will need to be taken to a health facility within 30 minutes. NZ Police and Health NZ districts are not the same (Police has 12, Health has 20), so there are some parts of a Police district which are not included in the comparable Health NZ district or vice versa.
Scoop
06-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Police And Health NZ Continue To Implement Mental Health Response Changes
Press Release – New Zealand Police Police and Health NZ will continue to work closely with these teams and districts to support their preparation and implementation for the changes and will continue work with remaining districts to get them ready to start Phase Two. Phase Two of the Police Mental Health Response Change Programme is set to be extended with a second group of districts implementing Phase Two from 19 May. The tranche two districts have been jointly assessed for their readiness and the multi-agency Mental Health Response Change Programme Governance Group has endorsed their implementation. Included in this second tranche will be: Police districts Auckland City, Canterbury, Kaikōura as part of Tasman, Wellington, Bay of Plenty (excluding Tokoroa and Taupo), Eastern (excluding Wairoa), and Southern (excluding Waitaki and Central Lakes), and Health NZ districts Auckland, Canterbury, South Canterbury, Capital Coast & Hutt Vally, Wairarapa, Bay of Plenty, Lakes (excluding Taupo), Hawke's Bay (excluding Wairoa), Tairāwhiti, and Southern (excluding Waitaki and Southern Lakes). Police and Health NZ will continue to work closely with these teams and districts to support their preparation and implementation for the changes and will continue work with remaining districts to get them ready to start Phase Two. The agencies anticipate tranche three districts will implement Phase Two changes on 16 June, pending final readiness assessments and governance group endorsement. Police Assistant Commissioner Mike Johnson says we remain committed to our joint efforts towards a system that supports mental wellbeing and gives people access to the best help that works for them. 'Safety is always Police's number one priority. Police have always, and will always, respond when there is an immediate risk to life or will not change. Outside of an emergency, Police have a threshold for what mental health related work sits with police and what doesn't. 'This supports us all to clarify roles and responses, ensuring Police are only involved where it's appropriate. That means where there is an offence identified (that we would attend through normal prioritisation) or where there is an immediate risk to life or safety,' says Assistant Commissioner Johnson.' Health NZ Director of Specialist Mental Health and Addiction Karla Bergquist says agencies are committed to getting it right and have been working together to ensure the changes are well implemented. 'The safety and well-being of patients and our staff is paramount as we work to ensure people requiring mental health support receive the right care at the right time. 'We have adopted a staged approach and extended our timeframes for Phase Two, introducing it in a planned and safe way. As part of this planning work, we have developed new procedures with clinical input and created training materials for staff to support them through this change. 'We are focussed on continuous improvement and will keep listening to feedback from our teams and stakeholders and take a joint approach to review learnings as we go.' 'We'd like to assure the public that as always, there is a range of services to help people in serious mental distress or those who are concerned about whānau. You can free call or text 1737 , contact your local crisis assessment team or in a life-threatening situation, call 111.' Phase One of the joint agency approach commenced on 4 November 2024, and Phase Two roll-out commenced in some districts on 14 April 2025. The changes will see an increased health-led response, enabling Police more time to do the work that only Police can, which the community expects them to do. Notes: Phase Two of the mental health response changes began on 14 April in Police districts Waitematā, Counties Manukau, Waikato, and Tasman (excluding Kaikoura) and Health NZ districts Waitematā, Counties Manukau, Waikato (excluding Tokoroa and Taumarunui), Nelson-Marlborough, and West Coast. The Phase Two changes remain the same and include: 60-minute handover detained persons in EDs – Police who have detained a person under the MH Act and transported them for an assessment will remain in the ED for a maximum one hour before departing, unless they consider there is an immediate risk to life or safety. Changes to mental health assessments in custody – If someone is placed under the MH Act while in a Police custody suite, they will need to be taken to a health facility within 30 minutes. Custody rules will ensure people in distress are assessed appropriately, preferably in a health setting. NZ Police and Health NZ districts are not the same (Police has 12, Health has 20), so there are some parts of a Police district which are not included in the comparable Health NZ district or vice versa.
Scoop
05-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Police And Health NZ Continue To Implement Mental Health Response Changes
Phase Two of the Police Mental Health Response Change Programme is set to be extended with a second group of districts implementing Phase Two from 19 May. The tranche two districts have been jointly assessed for their readiness and the multi-agency Mental Health Response Change Programme Governance Group has endorsed their implementation. Included in this second tranche will be: Police districts Auckland City, Canterbury, Kaikōura as part of Tasman, Wellington, Bay of Plenty (excluding Tokoroa and Taupo), Eastern (excluding Wairoa), and Southern (excluding Waitaki and Central Lakes), and Health NZ districts Auckland, Canterbury, South Canterbury, Capital Coast & Hutt Vally, Wairarapa, Bay of Plenty, Lakes (excluding Taupo), Hawke's Bay (excluding Wairoa), Tairāwhiti, and Southern (excluding Waitaki and Southern Lakes). Police and Health NZ will continue to work closely with these teams and districts to support their preparation and implementation for the changes and will continue work with remaining districts to get them ready to start Phase Two. The agencies anticipate tranche three districts will implement Phase Two changes on 16 June, pending final readiness assessments and governance group endorsement. Police Assistant Commissioner Mike Johnson says we remain committed to our joint efforts towards a system that supports mental wellbeing and gives people access to the best help that works for them. 'Safety is always Police's number one priority. Police have always, and will always, respond when there is an immediate risk to life or will not change. Outside of an emergency, Police have a threshold for what mental health related work sits with police and what doesn't. 'This supports us all to clarify roles and responses, ensuring Police are only involved where it's appropriate. That means where there is an offence identified (that we would attend through normal prioritisation) or where there is an immediate risk to life or safety,' says Assistant Commissioner Johnson.' Health NZ Director of Specialist Mental Health and Addiction Karla Bergquist says agencies are committed to getting it right and have been working together to ensure the changes are well implemented. 'The safety and well-being of patients and our staff is paramount as we work to ensure people requiring mental health support receive the right care at the right time. 'We have adopted a staged approach and extended our timeframes for Phase Two, introducing it in a planned and safe way. As part of this planning work, we have developed new procedures with clinical input and created training materials for staff to support them through this change. 'We are focussed on continuous improvement and will keep listening to feedback from our teams and stakeholders and take a joint approach to review learnings as we go.' 'We'd like to assure the public that as always, there is a range of services to help people in serious mental distress or those who are concerned about whānau. You can free call or text 1737 , contact your local crisis assessment team or in a life-threatening situation, call 111.' Phase One of the joint agency approach commenced on 4 November 2024, and Phase Two roll-out commenced in some districts on 14 April 2025. The changes will see an increased health-led response, enabling Police more time to do the work that only Police can, which the community expects them to do. Notes: Contact numbers for local crisis assessment teams are available online at: is external) Phase Two of the mental health response changes began on 14 April in Police districts Waitematā, Counties Manukau, Waikato, and Tasman (excluding Kaikoura) and Health NZ districts Waitematā, Counties Manukau, Waikato (excluding Tokoroa and Taumarunui), Nelson-Marlborough, and West Coast. The Phase Two changes remain the same and include: 60-minute handover detained persons in EDs – Police who have detained a person under the MH Act and transported them for an assessment will remain in the ED for a maximum one hour before departing, unless they consider there is an immediate risk to life or safety. Changes to mental health assessments in custody – If someone is placed under the MH Act while in a Police custody suite, they will need to be taken to a health facility within 30 minutes. Custody rules will ensure people in distress are assessed appropriately, preferably in a health setting. NZ Police and Health NZ districts are not the same (Police has 12, Health has 20), so there are some parts of a Police district which are not included in the comparable Health NZ district or vice versa.
