Incidents involving people with mental health problems on the rise

Police badge and radio.
Photo: Depositphotos.com
Police badge and radio.
Photo: Depositphotos.com

Police in The Hague have registered a rise of 20% in the number of incidents involving people exhibiting irrational behaviour in the city. Nationally the figure was up 14%, the AD reports.

Police in The Hague were called out 3,232 times in the last year to cope with people who have dementia or who have mental health issues, double the figure five years ago.

According to police chief Pieter-Jaap Aabersberg the nature of the incidents is becoming increasingly serious. ‘It is important that signals are picked up early and that these people get the support they need,’ he told the AD.

Parnassia group – the largest mental health care provider in the region – is at a loss as to the causes of the increase.

‘Maybe it’s to do with the fact that people with dementia stay in their own homes for longer and end up in the street in a confused state more often,’ AD quotes a spokesperson for Parnassia as saying. ‘We are also getting less tolerant. We used to take a confused person by the arm and escort them home, now we call the police.’

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