Police-mental health co-response teams are gaining attention as an alternative approach to behavioral health emergencies. Researchers from the Indiana University Paul H. O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, George Mason University, the University of San Diego School of Medicine, and RTI International partnered with community agencies in Indianapolis to conduct a first-of-its-kind study comparing co-response teams with traditional police-only responses.
While the study found no statistically significant differences between the two approaches, it offers important insights into the complexities of crisis response and the role of collaboration among healthcare, emergency services, and law enforcement. This brief highlights the study's findings, lessons learned, and implications for future behavioral health crisis response efforts.
