From crisis to cuffs: The impacts of police involvement in mental health emergencies among racialized children, youth, and families in Toronto.

INTRODUCTION: Evaluation of mental health emergency response is primarily police informed. Whether service users feel supported by police-based crisis interventions is overlooked. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to explore the impact of policing on racialized children, youth, and families during mental health emergencies. METHODS: Through detailed narratives and testimonies from 11 racialized service users, the harms of police involvement in mental health emergencies are uncovered. Intervention experiences and help-seeking behaviours were discussed. Participants shared their impressions of police knowledge on mental health, racial bias, and effectiveness in reducing symptoms. RESULTS: Four themes were developed: (1) Incongruity of involving police in mental health crisis response, (2) Intersectional biases of police, (3) Criminalization of children and youth, and (4) Replacing control with collective care in mental health response systems. CONCLUSION: The consensus among racialized service users was that police response to mental health crises is unhelpful and deters them from seeking future assistance. They advocated for community-led support for mental health emergencies.