Crisis Systems at the Crossroads: A Practical Perspective on Behavioural Health, Policing, and Crisis Systems

Grounded in frontline experience and global research, this text unpacks the complexities of defining behavioural health, the challenge of crisis cycling, and the evolving roles of law enforcement and community partners. Written from the unique perspective of a seasoned police officer embedded in the world of behavioural health crisis response, it offers an insider’s examination of the evolving landscape of public safety and mental health intervention.

Drawing on lived experience, operational insights, and contemporary best practices, the author advocates that police are one component within a broader collaborative, systems-based approach to crisis. Beginning with a foundational understanding of what forms a behavioural health crisis, the book guides readers through a range of response models—from non-police crisis lines and paramedic teams to police co-responder models and police call diversion programs. It critically examines the boundaries of police training, the harsh realities of non-clinical outcomes like tactical disengagement and use of force, and broader systemic pressures that shape crisis intervention. Each section ends with reflective commentary, blending academic insight with front-line pragmatism. The final chapters look ahead, proposing integrated frameworks and collaborative strategies to proactively manage crisis cycling and building more responsive, humane systems.

With a focus on real-world application, informed by both practice and research, this book is an essential resource for policing professionals, behavioural health professionals, policymakers, and students seeking a grounded yet progressive approach to behavioural health crisis intervention.

Glen Blackwell has over 35 years of operational policing experience with the Western Australia Police Force, including a decade focused on the intersection of policing and behavioural health crisis response. Recognised as a leader in this field, he has played a central role in the development, leadership, and training of specialised police-mental health co-responder teams aimed at improving outcomes for individuals in acute crisis. He established the agency’s behavioural health training role, delivering accredited crisis training for police and mental health clinicians, and revised the de-escalation training across the agency. He also held a six-month tenure within Western Australia Health, supervising the Mental Health Emergency Response Line, supporting implementation of recommendations from the Nexus Review.
He holds a Master of Leadership (High Distinction), with his academic work focusing on behavioural health crisis systems and the evolving role of police within this complexity. Being awarded a prestigious Winston Churchill Fellowship, enabled him to embed with crisis response teams across North America and the UK—both police-led and civilian—participating in frontline patrols, proactive crisis cycling programs, and advanced crisis training. He is an active member of several international crisis response associations and has presented his work at global conferences. In 2024, he presented a behavioural health crisis policy brief to national leaders at Australia Parliament House, advocating for more integrated, evidence-based crisis systems. He continues to contribute to policy, training, and research aimed at collaborative systems-based approaches that look beyond acute response to behavioural health crisis management.