Compassionate, timely, non coercive responses

@Appleblossom

Yeah, I can't reach the article either @avant-garde @Appleblossom

@tyme @Appleblossom

Got it, it pasted twice in a row

https://theconversation.com/police-arent-properly-trained-for-mental-health-crises-but-theyre-often-the-first-responders-heres-what-works-better-257641

Come to think of it, when I was unwell, around 2018, when I had police at my house, it was the PACER team. They were pretty good.

This is info about PACER: https://imcl.org.au/news/projects/pacer

@avant-garde @Appleblossom

Thanks @avant-garde

@tyme I guess it’s good when it works.

Yeah. Just like everything else! @Appleblossom

I don't know if PACER still exists though.

In Western Australia they have had co-response for a while. I think it works pretty well.

I have had the co-response team called a few times on me, they are a member of local crisis teams, and because I was linked into community mental health team, they already knew some of my story thankfully.

The thing with these teams is they are very under-staffed and often aren't available for most jobs. And when they have to issue forms, they can be with you for a few hours while they wait for private mental health ambulance for transport because those ambulances are also understaffed too.

It is a better option and often has much better outcomes. Sometimes they are able to de-escalate the situation and hospital can be avoided. The can have referring rights for follow up too which is good.

As someone who was tasered by a police officer while having in a crisis situation, police often can be trigger happy. Saying that I have had police officers save my life. Most dont use force and some are pretty understanding and kind.

hi @Appleblossom pacer are terrible in my lived experience

the police can be okay -

I have been sectioned in the last 3 weeks, had 3 or more police welfare checks of late, and been in the ED

I personally did not find the police upsetting, although I did find it humiliating and didn't want them in my house

the police told me i could get a call from a clinician associated with them - and she was okay coz she was objective

i agree the police shouldn't be involved,

you know what would be interesting, is if after an experience like that - being sectioned or a police welfare check, someone asked us - did it help, are we okay, did we feel comfortable?

Being sectioned by lifeline is very terrifying, and if you have a caller who is a bit inexperienced and doesn't have empathy,, that can happen. I often politely end the call if I feel so. But if a policeman is in ur house and you don't feel safe, what can u do? Negotiating in those instances is so hard. I don't have a good experience or have felt really heard in EDs in the last month or so, and while police weren't helpful overall they weren't harmful I must admit. The PACEr service has not helped me or proven trusworthy, and I regret taking on board their advice.

@EternalFlower @that is one hell of a month. Sorry it has been that bad.

I had PACER for me once about 7 years ago @tyme @EternalFlower

it was an interesting synchronicity in that the individual was new to our area. He was nice on the surface but his referral did not eventuate. Not because of my lack of follow through. Hmmm. Were we talking about falling through the cracks….

It was also about the period I called lifeline for me. Once was enough.

I am not one of those family members who thinks they are fine and pathologises family. It can happen. My circumstances have genuinely been so extreme. At first low socioeconomic, ( first 4 decades) but later the intergenerational trauma seems to show up differently. Not that I am rich by any stretch of the imagination.

Thank you for your considered balanced response @The-red-centaur. That is a significant lived experience.