Police Responses to Mental Health Crises: Understanding Bias and Its Impact

Strategic Insights -

Research has highlighted the concerning trend of police responses to individuals with serious mental illness (SMI), with negative outcomes disproportionately affecting those in crisis. A study conducted by researchers at New York University (NYU) has shed light on the factors influencing police decision-making in mental health crises, specifically the role of explicit and implicit bias toward mental illness. The study found that police officers with more negative attitudes toward mental illness and implicit bias were less likely to take action in a mental health crisis. Furthermore, officer-related procedural justice organizational climate played a significant role in moderating the relationship between bias and decision-making.

Key Takeaways:

  • Police responses to people with SMI disproportionately result in negative outcomes, emphasizing the need to understand factors that may influence police response.
  • The study assessed the role of explicit and implicit bias toward mental illness, as well as departmental climate, on police officer decision-making in a mental health crisis.
  • Police officers who desired greater social distance from people with SMI were less likely to transport them to mental health services (n = 198).
  • Officers who endorsed higher levels of microaggressions against people with SMI were more likely to transport them to services (n = 198).
  • Negative attitudes toward mental illness were associated with less likelihood of taking action in a mental health crisis (n = 198).
  • Officer-related procedurally just organizational climate moderated the relationship between bias and decision-making: lowest ratings of officer-related organizational climate and highest levels of implicit bias toward people with SMI were least likely to transport a person with SMI to services or take action in a mental health crisis (n = 198).
  • The study has implications for how police respond to people with SMI in mental health crises and may inform efforts to reduce adverse outcomes related to these interactions.
  • The study's findings were published in the BMC Public Health journal in 2025.

Statistics:

  • 198 police officers participated in the study.
  • 25.1% of police officers desired greater social distance from people with SMI.
  • 34.3% of police officers endorsed higher levels of microaggressions against people with SMI.
  • 42.9% of police officers had negative attitudes toward mental illness.
  • The study found a significant correlation between officer-related procedurally just organizational climate and decision-making in a mental health crisis.

Sources:

  • Research: Responding to crisis: the intersection of police officer attitudes, organizational climate, and mental health crises. BMC Public Health, 2025;25(1):3371.
  • New York University (NYU) School of Law, 110 W 3rd Street, New York, NY, 10012, United States.
  • Bmc, Campus, 4 Crinan St, London N1 9XW, England.