Police receiving record level of phone calls on mental health

The Metropolitan police received a phone call relating to mental health every five minutes last year, an increasing level of demand caused by NHS services struggling to cope.

The number of calls handled by Britain’s largest police force in which someone was concerned about a person’s mental health hit a record 115,000 in the last year - about 315 a day, or 13 an hour.

According to data released under freedom of information legislation, volumes have grown by nearly a third since 2011-12, and officers worry the demand for help from the public will continue to escalate.

One senior police officer told the Guardian a reduction in the ability to cope of NHS mental health services was a key factor in the rise in mental health calls to the police, and it was a national trend.

Police officers say they end up picking up the pieces, with the NHS unable to help enough people.

In some cases, ill people struggling to find help commit crimes to obtain treatment.

Across England and Wales, police forces also report that they are increasingly being asked to get involved with mental health issues.

Michael Brown, mental health coordinator for the College of Policing, said: “We know there is more demand on NHS mental health services and their funding has been cut.

“We know that there has been a 60 per cent increase in referrals to NHS mental health crisis teams but these services have had a cut in their funding.

“Most people in contact with police about mental health issues don’t need the police, they need a mental health professional.

“The inability to access a mental health professional is the problem, and that generates a lot of work for the police.”

Richard Smith, head of safeguarding at the Metropolitan police force, said: “Based on current trends, section 136 demand is set to double in London in the next 10 years as it’s increasing by approximately 10 per cent each year.

“The issues we deal with include those with mental ill health who are involved in crime as victims or suspects as well as people who are in crisis in their home or in a public place.”

A Department of Health spokesperson said: “Everyone should be able to access the mental health support they need. We have made major improvements in recent years, including setting up the first ever access and waiting standards for mental health and increasing mental health spending year on year to a record £11.6 billion in 2016/17.”