People with suicidality or self-harm frequently referred to a police mental health liaison service

Frequent presentations for suicidality and self-harm place considerable pressure on emergency services, yet little is known about individuals repeatedly referred to police-linked mental health liaison services. This study examined the prevalence and profile of people frequently referred to the Queensland Police Communications Centre Mental Health Liaison Service (PCC MHLS). Using referral data from 2022 to 2024, frequent referrals were defined as three or more within any 12-month period. Of 4,327 individuals referred with suicidality or self-harm, 110 (2.5%) met this criterion, accounting for 8.7% of all referrals. Compared with others, they were more likely to be younger, female, and Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, and had higher rates of recorded mental health diagnoses, substance-use comorbidity, and current engagement with public mental health services. Although numerically small, this group exerts disproportionate demand, highlighting opportunities for targeted, coordinated interventions to reduce repeat crisis contact.