ASoP statement on Four Corners 'Brutal Force' investigation

Psychiatrists: a mental health crisis should be met with care, not force.

The Australian Society of Psychiatrists (ASoP) has expressed deep concern following the ABC Four Corners investigation Brutal Force which aired tonight and exposed confronting incidents involving people experiencing acute mental illness during interactions with police.

The program highlights the urgent need to strengthen Australia's response to mental health crises and ensure that people experiencing severe psychological distress are met with care, compassion and clinical expertise.

The investigation examined the experiences of two individuals in severe mental distress — one experiencing an acute psychotic episode and another experiencing a manic episode. For many Australians living with mental illness, their families and the clinicians who care for them, the footage was distressing and difficult to watch.

ASoP said the program underscored the urgent need to reform how Australia responds to mental health crises in the community.

"The footage shown on Four Corners was sickening. Behind every incident is a human being at one of the most vulnerable moments of their life, often frightened, confused, unwell and unable to understand what is happening around them," said ASoP CEO Dr Pramudie Gunaratne.

“Mental illness should never be treated as a disciplinary problem. It is a health condition requiring skilled clinical assessment, de-escalation, compassion and care.”

ASoP said that while police officers are often placed in difficult circumstances and are frequently called upon to fill gaps in the mental health system, law enforcement should not be the default response to a health emergency.

ASoP noted that the NSW Upper House Inquiry into Community and Outpatient Mental Health Care examined this issue in detail and recommended the development of a health-led response to mental health emergencies, informed by successful interstate models. The NSW Government subsequently supported this recommendation.

"We urgently call on the NSW Premier, the Minister for Mental Health and the Minister for Police to implement these recommendations," Dr Gunaratne said.

“Clinical training is fundamentally about de-escalation. Mental health clinicians and paramedics are trained to understand symptoms, assess risk, communicate therapeutically and reduce distress. The goal is to help a person regain safety and dignity, not simply gain control of a situation.”

“The question raised by Four Corners is not simply whether individual decisions were right or wrong. The bigger question is why, in 2026, people experiencing a mental health emergency are still so often met first by a law enforcement response rather than a healthcare response.”

ASoP Director, Sarah Logan, lives with bipolar disorder and said "No family should have to watch footage of their loved one in crisis and wonder whether the system responded with care or force."

“The path forward is clear — invest in clinician-led crisis response, rebuild acute and community capacity, and make sure people with severe mental illness are met by the right expertise at the worst moment of their lives.”

ASoP reiterated its support for ongoing reform of Australia's mental health crisis response systems and called for continued investment in health-led alternatives, community mental health services, crisis care pathways and the workforce required to deliver them.

Watch the Four Corners episode: here

Media contact: David Faktor, 0405 497 510