Assistant Chief Constable Paul Netherton from Devon and Cornwall Police said there is rising tension between forces and mental care providers, possibly due to budget cuts.
He also warned officers are not trained or equipped to properly deal with these patients.
Jonathan Clark from Premier Lifeline told the News Hour the police can only be taught so much.
"All they can be taught is the basics - how to recognise someone potentially has a mental health problem and what you need to do to actually do to help someone in the state you're finding them, and then what is the best way to responding to that.
"They will never be mental health nurses or social workers or psychiatrist, all they can be is police officers with some insight to know how to respond to a person in need to take them to a place of safety to be assessed by the professionals.
"The problem is making sure you have the professionals to assess them and also the facilities if they need inpatient care, to take them to as soon as possible, once they've been assessed."
If you want to get in contact with Premier Lifeline, the National Christian Helpline, call 0300 111 0101 for help and advice.
