A new NT Health led initiative Mental Health Co-Response Project will commence next week in the Top End.
An election commitment, the project will see a partnership between NT Health clinicians, St John NT and NT Police to provide a new, collaborative approach to mental health emergencies in the Top End.
Senior Sergeant Troy Stephens said the Northern Territory Police were looking forward to working in partnership with St John NT to improving mental health outcomes for Territorians, “It is a positive step forward in minimising harm that can arise as a result of mental health issues.”
Under the trial, a mental health clinician will respond to mental health triple-0 emergencies with a police officer or a paramedic to provide specialised care on a call-out.
The program has seen success in other jurisdictions and will see the onsite management of mental health call-out’s not requiring hospital admission appropriately managed in the community.
The benefits of the Mental Health Co-Response Model will increase care outcomes for people living with mental illness and include:
- Improved patient outcomes;
- Rapid access to mental health intervention and information;
- A decrease in unnecessary emergency department presentations; and
- A reduction in behavioural escalation.
The Darwin Co-Response Team will be operational five days a week in the evenings from late October 2020 and will be co-located at the Casuarina Police Station.
Senior Project Officer, Amanda Rogers described the benefits of the model, “The Co-Response model is a trauma informed and recovery-orientated approach to mental health emergency situations that helps to provide more appropriate and gentle way of accessing help in time of crisis.”
The Team will provide support and interventions for people of all ages and backgrounds in the Darwin and surrounding areas and will be equipped to respond to community call-outs in a marked St John Ambulance van.
Minister for Health, Natasha Fyles has reinforced the government’s commitment to the program.
“We know that the rapid, early intervention in a mental health crisis is imperative, it allows for our hard working front line to be able better treat Territorians in the community in their time of need, alleviating some pressure on hospital admissions.
“The Model is something different we’ve not seen before in the NT. It offers mobile, emergency mental health support with the capacity to provide rapid police and clinical services to a person at the time of crisis.
“We are a government who are increasing access to grass-roots mental health supports for those who need it the most. We are doing this via local initiatives and $50 million of infrastructure and operational support from our National Health Reform Agreement.”
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