NSW police urged to improve mental health training after string of deaths involving vulnerable people

The parliamentary inquiry into mental health care across NSW found police involvement in crises could cause further distress and had been harmful in a ‘significant number of cases’. Photograph: Jonny Weeks/The Guardian

New South Wales police have been urged to improve mandatory mental health training for officers and “explore” becoming the second responders to these types of emergencies after a string of fatalities involving vulnerable people.

A parliamentary inquiry into mental health care across NSW made the recommendations after finding police involvement in mental health crises could cause further distress and had been harmful in a “significant number of cases”.