Processes of co-response crisis mental health models: a scoping review

Objective Police services assume the role of first responders for mental health crisis situations, providing no mental health support risking police-inflicted harm to the person in crisis. Advances in mental health and police reform have produced alternative response models like co-response that includes both police officers and trained mental health service providers. This scoping review synthesises knowledge to present key processes that facilitate co-response models.Method Covidence software was used by two independent reviewers to search eleven databases with terms including ‘co-response’, ‘police partnerships’, and ‘crisis response team’. These reviewers screened 2690 titles and abstracts and 109 full-texts to include 76 articles. Nine independent coders employed thematic content analysis.Results Three themes and seven sub-themes were determined as key processes of co-response. Decriminalising mental health involves re-evaluating the role of police and reducing reliance on police in crisis mental health response. Interprofessional collaboration features partnerships between existing services, unifying strategies, and establishing multidisciplinary teams. A piloting phase permits monitoring and evaluation and highlights the diversity of co-response models.Discussion Co-response crisis mental health models are increasingly common, heterogeneous in design and operation, and built upon existing infrastructure. Future inquiries could include trauma-informed care and the evaluation of civilian-led models..