Police and Behavioral Health Professionals' Experiences with a Hybrid Co-response Approach to Mental Health Crisis Intervention: Qualitative Findings.

As initiatives to address mental health crises are expanding throughout the United States, many efforts are focused on police, who often respond first to these emergencies. Co-response models have grown substantially over the past several decades. However, there is a limited evidence base for hybrid models that pair in-person police officers with virtual, on-demand behavioral health professionals (BHPs). This hybrid modality is important to assess given the increased use of telehealth for behavioral health services more generally to improve accessibility. Drawing from semi-structured interviews with 21 co-responders (police officers, n = 15; BHPs, n = 6) involved in a hybrid co-response program in Central Florida, this study provides insights into co-responders' experiences with the partnership and perceptions of the model's benefits and challenges. Findings revealed that co-responders valued the partnership for providing on-scene mental health support and assessment, real-world training during live emergencies, safety for both partners, and promoting trust with individuals in crisis. The hybrid model expanded service connections beyond mental health crises for substance use, grief counseling, and housing support. However, differing views on averting involuntary mental health examinations highlighted role conflicts rooted in liability concerns, alongside challenges such as securing consent for virtual consultations and limited partnership interactions. These data can guide agencies in refining hybrid models to align with frontline perspectives, especially in the absence of standardized interprofessional policies. Overall, this study has implications for broader behavioral health co-response teams that may involve other partners, such as paramedics in substance use crises.