Service users and mental health

As a result of ongoing consultation with people with disabilities to produce its disability equality scheme, Cheshire Constabulary (www.cheshire.police.uk) identified concerns that if an individual manifested difficult or unusual behaviour attracting police attention, officers may not consider the possibility of this being a mental health issue. As such, they may react in a way that could exacerbate the situation to the person’s disadvantage. In response, the constabulary is developing a credit card style card that individuals with a diagnosed mental health issue can produce (or be found when searched). This will state their condition and the need for appropriate support.

Cheshire is also developing two ‘attention cards’. One is for people with Asperger’s, replicates a card produced by West Midlands Police and has involved local Asperger’s support charity, CASPAR. The need was identified following a multi–agency conference on the treatment of people on the autistic spectrum within the criminal justice system. The other follows consultation with a learning disability group and is being developed with the assistance of the PCTs for North Cheshire and West Cheshire.

Cheshire hopes these initiatives will increase confidence in the emergency services and that the needs of people with mental health issues will be quickly identified and appropriate support and assistance will be forthcoming.