Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Date of Degree

9-2025

Document Type

Doctoral Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Program

Psychology

Advisor

Philip Yanos

Committee Members

William Gottdiener

Kevin Nadal

Michell Munson

Joseph DeLuca

Subject Categories

Community Psychology | Multicultural Psychology | Other Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration | Social Justice | Social Psychology

Keywords

mental health, emergency services, SMI, police, first responders, criminal justice

Abstract

Mental health emergency response has become a highly scrutinized topic following the Black Lives Matter movement and several notable incidents of mental health emergency service users being killed by police responders. Qualitative interviews were conducted with mental health emergency service users to better understand the experience of using mental health emergency services, garner critical feedback of the service, and explore recommendations to improve future response. A total of 23 participants conducted interviews and detailed 40 incidents of mental health emergency service utilization. These interviews were then coded and analyzed. There were a few major findings from the data. Just over a third of responders were perceived as aggressive and reportedly used some type of force (including the act of putting on handcuffs). Almost all participants were hospitalized, with around half of participants reporting dissatisfaction with the outcome. There was no diversion to community mental health programs in any of the incidents. And finally, nearly all participants felt that emergency mental health responders should be curious, conversational, non-judgmental and not aggressive, and that responder should be comprised of mental health professionals and peers.

Download

This work is embargoed and will be available for download on Tuesday, July 14, 2026

Share

COinS