Police will soon stop responding to most mental health calls after years of warning the workload was becoming unsustainable.
Police Commissioner Andrew Coster signalled the wind down months ago, with a formal notice now issued to Health New Zealand confirming the change.
The new response will be staged, beginning with a higher threshold to mental health calls police will respond to.
Police will also reduce visits to mental health facilities, responses to welfare checks and family harm call outs.
Greg Davies, a registered nurse and mental health worker, tells Kathryn the police move will add more pressure to an already stressed mental health workforce.
Police Commissioner Andrew Coster then talks about the transition, expected to take a year.
Photo: 123rf.com
