Mental health co-response teams to launch in four regions

Mental health co-response teams pairing Police with specialist clinicians will be rolled out in four regions this year to respond to 111 mental distress calls, the Government has announced.

Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey said the first four new teams would be established in Canterbury, Auckland, Bay of Plenty and Counties Manukau, with all expected to be operating by the end of June.

“It’s not right that when a concerned mum, dad, friend, or colleague calls 111 looking for a mental health response, they receive a criminal justice response,” Doocey said.

“This Government is changing that by rolling out a better crisis response.”

The initiative is backed by $28 million in Budget 2025 funding, which will support the rollout of 10 mental health co-response teams nationwide and expand crisis helpline capacity.

How the teams will work

The co-response model pairs frontline Police with mental health workers, allowing them to respond together to incidents involving people experiencing mental distress.

Doocey said the approach enables people in crisis to receive support on the spot and improves access to appropriate health services, reducing reliance on Police custody or hospital emergency departments.

Evaluation of an existing co-response service in Wellington found fewer people were detained under the Mental Health Act, fewer were taken to emergency departments or Police stations, and levels of wraparound support increased.

“This is important because over the years I’ve heard from advocates, those with lived experience and families that having a uniformed Police officer turn up during times of mental health need can be disheartening and distressing,” Doocey said.

“Most of the time, these people have not done anything criminally wrong, yet a Police officer turns up at what can be the lowest time in their life.”

While acknowledging the work Police do in communities, Doocey said they are not mental health professionals and should not be the default response to mental health crises.

Demand for mental health responses

There are an estimated 73,000 mental health-related 111 calls each year.

Doocey said expanding co-response teams would improve outcomes for many people and reduce pressure on emergency departments and Police.

He also pointed to recent changes under the Police change programme, including a 60-minute handover requirement from Police to emergency department staff for people arriving in distress, and a rule requiring people held under the Mental Health Act in Police custody to be transferred to a health facility within 30 minutes.

Wider rollout to follow

The Government says the exact structure of each co-response team will vary by location. While the first four regions have been confirmed, six additional locations will be announced in due course.

All four initial teams are expected to be operational by 30 June 2026.

“Co-response teams are part of this Government’s mental health plan to deliver faster access to support, more frontline workers, and a better crisis response,” Doocey said.