Have you encountered the police while experiencing mental distress? Would you like to collaborate with us to create a story of how the police responded to you and your whānau?

If you are over 18 years and have experience a police encounter, we invite you to collaborate with us to produce your story on the role police played in mitigating or increasing your mental distress. We welcome anyone else (whānau/family members, support persons) of your choice to take part in the co-creation of your story. We will draw on your story and others nationally to develop recommendations for police policy and practice development.

What will happen in this research?

The story creation will begin with a kanohi-ki-te-kanohi (face-to-face) meeting one of our team. Guided by tikanga Māori we use a whanaungatanga approach of relationships, building trust and rapport with you and your whānau. Further support is on hand should you find it difficult to tell your story.

It is up to you how you want to tell your story. All stories will be written up in text, but you also have the choice to include artistic representations to help tell your story. Co-creating stories can be a time-consuming process. We estimate 1-2 hours for the initial interview, followed by 2-3 follow-up conversations by phone or email that may be ½ -1 hour long.

At the story completion, we will provide you with a written report and digital copy of your story on a USB stick for you and your whānau to keep. The police we are collaborating with will only see this completed story.

What are the benefits?

This project is important right now because of the high incidence of mental health needs among people who have encountered police responses. We will draw on your story and others we gather to contribute new perspectives on how to improve police responses to people who have experienced mental distress in the community and inform evidence-based police strategies. Hence, by participating in this project, you will have the opportunity to use your lived experience to positively impact the future direction of police policy and practice for whānau who become engaged with police. You may also find the process of telling your story therapeutic by allowing you the opportunity to have your voice heard.

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Approved by the Auckland University of Technology Ethics Committee on 4 September 2019, AUTEC Reference number 19/306.