People experiencing mental health emergencies need care, not law enforcement.

But in a mental health emergency, what you receive is drastically different depending on where you live. In New South Wales, the police continue to take primary responsibility in responding to mental health emergencies. This approach continues to have fatal & tragic consequences. In NSW mental illness is linked to almost half of all police critical incidents. 

It’s no wonder that some people fear reaching out for help with their mental health when they risk being injured or killed by police in their own home.

But it doesn't have to be this way. Governments around Australia and overseas have changed how they care for people in mental health distress. The UK, SA, TAS, and ACT all respond to mental health emergencies with healthcare workers in the lead, not police.

With more attention on this issue than ever before and an Inquiry into mental health in NSW being chaired by the Greens we have a real opportunity for meaningful reform.