The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) has expressed grave concern regarding the treatment of Jodi Knott during a mental health crisis, as revealed in an ABC Four Corners investigation last night.

Ms Knott, who lived with schizophrenia, was experiencing a psychotic episode at the time of the 2023 incident.

RANZCP NSW Branch Chair Dr Ian Korbel said the footage was deeply disturbing and highlighted serious concerns about how frontline responders are equipped to manage acute mental health crises.

“This was a confronting and deeply distressing incident,” Dr Korbel said.

“People experiencing psychosis are among the most vulnerable members of our community. What we saw raises serious questions about whether current response models are adequately designed to support people experiencing severe mental distress.”

Reports indicate that a specialist mental health clinician was not present during police interactions involving Ms Knott, raising questions about access to co-response models like the Police Ambulance Clinical Early Response (PACER) model during mental health crises.

"People experiencing a mental health crisis deserve timely access to specialist care, regardless of where they live. PACER must be expanded statewide and underpinned by a consistent triage model, as the current system is fragmented, available in only 16 of 57 Police Area Commands and Districts, and lacks 24/7 coverage anywhere in NSW," said Dr Ian Korbel.

The RANZCP continues to advocate for health-led, trauma-informed responses to mental health crises, including greater use of co-response models involving clinicians and first responders.

“Mental health crises require care, clinical expertise and skilled de-escalation, with force used only as a last resort when there is an immediate risk to safety,” Dr Korbel said.

“People living with serious mental illness are far more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators. Responses that are punitive, aggressive or poorly informed can cause further harm and deepen trauma.”

Dr Korbel said incidents like this risk eroding public trust and may discourage people experiencing mental distress from seeking help.

“When people cannot trust that they will be treated safely and with dignity, they may avoid engaging with services altogether, which can lead to worse outcomes,” he said.

“This incident reflects a broader challenge facing mental health systems across Australia. Police are too often called upon to respond to situations that are fundamentally health crises. The solution is not simply better policing, but greater investment in accessible, timely mental health assessment, crisis care and community treatment services.”

The RANZCP is calling on the NSW Government to review current police training and response models, while accelerating investment in evidence-based, health-led crisis responses.

“While training is important, psychiatrists believe the primary reform must be greater access to specialised mental health crisis services and clinician-led responses,” Dr Korbel said.

“We are urgently seeking to work with the NSW Premier, the Minister for Mental Health and the Minister for Police on implementing reforms that ensure people in mental health crisis are met with care, dignity and clinical expertise, including strengthened training, expanded co-response models and greater availability of specialist mental health services.”

“Every Australian experiencing a mental health crisis deserves a response grounded in safety, dignity and clinical care. This incident should be a catalyst for accelerating the transition towards health-led crisis responses across New South Wales.”

For media inquiries, please contact: Dishi Gahlowt on +61 437 315 911 or email media@ranzcp.org  

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists is a membership organisation that prepares medical specialists in the field of psychiatry, supports and enhances clinical practice, advocates for people affected by mental illness and advises governments and other groups on mental health care. For information about our work, our members or our history, visit www.ranzcp.org. 

In Australia: If you or someone you know needs help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or www.lifeline.org.au or the Suicide Callback Service on 1300 659 467 or www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au. 

In New Zealand: If you or someone you know needs help, contact Lifeline NZ on 0800 543 354 or www.lifeline.org.nz or the Suicide Crisis Helpline on 0508 828 865 or  www.lifeline.org.nz/services/suicide-crisis-helpline.