"I think it’s very clear when you call 111 with a physical health crisis [currently] you get a health response. When you call 111 with a mental health crisis in New Zealand you get a criminal justice response.
“I think most people are saying it would be better if we had mental health professionals turning up to 111 calls when there is a mental health crisis response needed, and that’s what I would support as the new mental health minister.”
Where a person’s life was at risk, police should be responding alongside mental health professionals, but a police presence would not be needed in every case, he said.
Doocey has requested that Health NZ, the police and the Ministry of Health look at a five-year rollout of a mental health co-response team programme.
Yeah I can’t find it either, though my google fu is weak at the moment cos I’m on my phone.
I don’t think they were necessarily seeking it more than others, more it was occurring to me as the right option for them.