Abstract
Mental illness is a major public health concern in Canada and also globally. According to the World Health Organization, five of the top ten disabilities worldwide are mental health disorders. Within Canada, one in five individuals is living with mental illness each year. Currently, there are 6.7 million Canadians living with mental illness and over 1 million Canadian youth living with mental illness. Police are frequently the first responders to situations in the community involving people with mental illness, and police services are increasingly aware of the need to provide officers with additional training and strategies for effectively interacting with these citizens.This study examined the effectiveness of four online, interactive video-based simulations designed to educate police officers about mental illness and strategies for interacting with people with mental illness. The simulations were created through the efforts of a unique partnership involving a police service, a mental health facility and two postsecondary institutions. Frontline police officers from Ontario were divided into one of three groups (simulation, face to face, control). Using a pre- and post-test questionnaire, the groups were compared on their level of knowledge and understanding of mental illness. In addition, focus groups explored the impact of the simulations on officers’ level of confidence in engaging with individuals with mental illness and officers’ perceptions of the simulations’ ease of use and level of realism. The study’s findings determined that the simulations were just as effective as face-to-face learning, and the officers reported the simulations were easy to use and reflected real-life scenarios they had encountered on the job. As mental health continues to be a major public concern, not only in Canada but also globally, interactive simulations may provide an effective and affordable education resource not only for police officers but for other professionals seeking increased knowledge and skills in interacting with citizens with mental illness.Keywords: policing, mental illness, education, computer-based simulation
Highlights
Mental illness is a major public health concern in Canada but globally
This study examined three major research questions: 1 To what extent can simulations be used as a tool to educate police officers about mental illness and how to respond effectively in interactions with individuals living with mental illness?
Officers who had attended one of the weeklong mental illness education sessions provided by the two nursing colleagues or who had participated in the development of the simulations were not eligible to participate in the study
Summary
Mental illness is a major public health concern in Canada but globally. First responders to emergencies are generally not mental health professionals; it is imperative that first responders develop the skills necessary to be effective when interacting with citizens with mental illness. Police officers are often the first responders to situations in the community involving people with mental illness. In 2011, the first large-scale Canadian study (Smetanin et al.) to examine the nature of police interactions with individuals with mental illness was conducted with support from the Mental Health Commission of Canada. The majority of the interactions ended without an apprehension or arrest; police use of force was a common experience. A consistent theme expressed by the participants was the importance of police officers being better educated on how to successfully manage situations involving individuals with mental illness
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Gateways: International Journal of Community Research and Engagement
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
