Week 9 Flashcards
Why does terminology matter in mental health? (4)
There are a variety of terms that are commonly used when discussing police interactions in mental health situations and we need to understand what interactions we are actually talking about to understand what is happening
Language also shapes our actions and perceptions (labeling theory)
People-first language creates dignity and respect
Reflective language encourages positive interactions and outcomes
What are the 3 terms used by police and in literature/research?
Emotional Disturbed Person (EDP)
Person with a Mental Illness (PMI)
Person in Crisis (PIC)
What is an Emotional Disturbed Person (EDP)? (3)
Any person who appears to be in a state of crisis or any person who is mentally disordered
Historically a commonly used term but we have moved away from it because it is quite negative
Viewed as pejorative, not person-first
What is a Person with a Mental Illness (PMI)? (2)
Individual with a diagnosable mental illness, using person-first language
Issues with the term in policing are that police are not MH pros and cannot know and not everyone they encounter suffers from a MI
What is a Person in Crisis (PIC)? (3)
An individual whose behavior results in police contact due to an apparent need for urgent care within the mental health system
Or they are otherwise experiencing a mental or emotional crisis involving behavior that is sufficiently erratic, threatening or dangerous that the police are called in order to protect the person and/or those around them
More common term
What terminology is used? (3) Why?
Most common in literature is PMI
Sometimes EDP is still used in policing
PIC seems to capture everything however
Choosing respectful and accurate terms encourages better research as well as empathy and support
What factors result in the high number of police interactions with PICs? (3)
De-institutionalization of asylums and mental health institutions, throwing them back into the world without support
Lack of community resources (especially after COVID)
Mental Health Act that requires police be involved in certain situations
What are the 3 conditions under which a police response is likely to be necessary for a mental health crisis?
Violence or weapons (against self or others)
Criminal activity
Involuntary apprehension under relevant legislation
What are the 4 ways the Mental Health Act creates police interactions with PICs?
Form 1: Application for Psychiatric Assessment
Form 2: Justice of the Peace Order
Form 47: Community Treatment Order
Section 17 apprehension
What is a Form 1: Application for Psychiatric Assessment? (2)
Given by a physician, requiring an officer to apprehend that person and bring them to the hospital as they believe they are in immediate crisis and need an assessment
Only valid for 7 days and need to have seen them within the last 7 days
What is a Form 2: Justice of the Peace Order? (3)
Anyone can get this for a loved one or someone you know
Officer has to go get that person and bring them to the hospital for a psychiatric assessment
Valid for 7 days
What is a Form 47: Community Treatment Order? (2)
Physicians can issue a form to get a person picked up by an officer and brought to the hospital for assessment as they haven’t seen them in a while and are worried
Good for 30 days
What is a Section 17 apprehension? (2)
Immediate apprehension by an officer to bring them into the hospital
The individual is in immediate danger to themselves or somebody else to such an extent that it would be dangerous to wait for a Form 2
What are the stats regarding police interactions with PMIs/PICs? (4)
PMIs are more likely to interact with police than non-PMIs
25% of PMIs are arrested at some point in their lifetime and 10% encounter police during their intro to the mental health system
Mental health related calls ranged from 1-17% of all calls for service in Canada and they are increasing
There are a variety of reasons for contact - 20% for violent criminal act, 40% each for non-violent criminal act and situation unrelated to crime
What are the challenges with police responses to mental health? (6)
Consumes a lot of police resources (take longer, they have to wait with them at the hospital)
Lack of expertise (not enough training, experience is not enough)
Criminalization of PMIs (more likely to be arrested, overrepresentation, mercy bookings)
Issues with the MH system (limited resources, fragmented system)
Stigmatization and traumatization (labeled as unpredictable and dangerous, involuntary apprehensions can be traumatizing and stigmatizing)
Over-representation in UofF incidents, including deadly force