Symptoms of mental health difficulties in police cell detainees in Iceland: Is it an appropriate place of safety for patients? A mixed methods study
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Individuals with mental health difficulties in Iceland can be detained in police cells as a last resource place of safety when psychiatrists consider patients unsuitable for admission to a ward, for example, due to being under the influence of substances or being too violent. We aimed to investigate if detainment in a police cell affected symptoms of mental illnesses, and subsequently if police cells are an appropriate place of safety for patients in Iceland. We used a mixed methods approach utilising administrative records of detainees' visible symptoms of mental illnesses and ten semi-structured interviews with mental health professionals and police sergeants. Unpublished secondary data from the Reykjavik Metropolitan Police of detainees ( n = 6874) and exceptional incidents in police cells from the 1st of January 2018 to the 18th of August 2022 was analysed. 72.1 % of all suicide attempts and 77.3 % of all self-harming behaviour took place in the initial four hours of detainment. Three themes generated from the interviews with professionals: 1) violent behaviour as a determining factor in using police cells as a place of safety, 2) the detrimental impact of detainment in police cells on mental health, and 3) the lack of support and resources for professionals to appropriately care for individuals with mental health difficulties. The study highlights police cells are not currently suitable places of safety in Iceland. New laws and regulations in Iceland should be developed to support police and mental health professionals to adequately provide safety for individuals with mental health difficulties. • In 24.6 % of detainments, detainees reportedly display symptoms of mental illness • Aggression is initially focused inwards and turns outwards as time increases. • Highest risk of physical self-harm is in the first four hours of detainment (72.1 %). • Police cells are not appropriate places of safety according to professionals. • Iceland lacks resources and laws regarding individuals with mental illnesses.
Authors: Rannveig Íva Aspardóttir, Hannah Jones, Alan Underwood, Jennifer Hopton, Georgina Mathlin
Institution: Queen Mary University of London
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,510
OpenAlex ID: W4414082367