Information on Police Officers' mental health issues in London

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.029786

I note you seek access to the following information:

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, please provide me with information on Police Officers' mental health issues in London.

1. How many police officers have taken sick leave due to mental health reasons between 2018-2022?
2. How many police officers have left the force due to mental health issues between 2018-2022?
3. How many police officers have been referred to counselling or other mental health services between 2018-2022?
4. What is the current policy of your police force regarding mental health support for police officers?
5. What training and education programs are provided to police officers to help them recognise and manage their own mental health and wellbeing?
6. What steps are being taken to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues among police officers?
7. How is the effectiveness of mental health support services for police officers measured and evaluated?

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

Q1 - How many police officers have taken sick leave due to mental health reasons between 2018-2022?

4,820.

Q2 - How many police officers have left the force due to mental health issues between 2018-2022?

This information is not held. This is because we do not have a category to record those who cite mental health issues as the reason they are leaving.

Q3 - How many police officers have been referred to counselling or other mental health services between 2018-2022?

Counselling is accessed via the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), however as the EAP is a confidential service data cannot be provided to identify referrals for police officers and police staff.

However we do hold some data that provides an indication of the engagement with mental health (MH) services, which is in the table below. This is compiled by the Occupational Health (OH) team, as people are referred to the OH service if it is needed additionally or supplementary to counselling.

Year	Indicative engagement of MH services
2018	1,027
2019	1,280
2020	1,665
2021	3,017
2022	2,224

Q4 - What is the current policy of your police force regarding mental health support for police officers?

This information is not held because we do not currently have a policy specifically around mental health.

Q5 - What training and education programs are provided to police officers to help them recognise and manage their own mental health and wellbeing?

There are a number of specific elements on specific courses that deal specifically with officer welfare/recognise their own mental health and welfare.

All student officers receive a specific input into Welfare and Resilience, Wellbeing Support. The purpose of this session is for student police officers to be able to recognise how to maintain their emotional and physical wellbeing and resilience as a police officer, and student police officer, and how to support their colleagues. This is followed by an opportunity to research the support available through the MPS internally and external agencies and how to build resilience.

Role Specific Training

SOIT (Sexual Offences Investigator Trained) Support and Care
1. Discuss what is meant by a Critical Occupation.
2. Recognise the signs of stress.
3. Discuss the occupational hazards of stress and burnout.
4. Show how these can be minimised and managed.
5. Demonstrate the Support & Self-care Pathways that exist for SOITs.

Online Child Sexual Abuse Training Course:
1. Recognise the health risks associated with their roles in the MPS.
2. Identify methods and techniques that can be used for minimising the effects of stress.
3. List the effects of trauma and ways of alleviating its effects.
4. List the signs and symptoms of depression.
5. Identify steps to be considered that might help dealing with depression.

Interview Advisor Course - there is an element that deals with Interviewer welfare:
1. Outline the impact that interviewing can have on stress and mental health.
2. Explain how to manage the health, safety and welfare of interviewing officers.

Serious and Complex Interview Course:
1. Determine the impacts that interviewing can have on mental health.
2. Identify self-care and support pathways that exist for interviewing officers.

Detective Sergeant & Inspector Course:
At various stages of inputs in relation to the welfare of officers and staff under their command.

Furthermore our First Line Leadership Programme provides elements that enable our newly qualified sergeants and junior managers to apply ethical leadership and support wellbeing within the workplace.

Additionally, there are a number of initiatives available to all officers that focus on wellbeing, resilience and mental health via our internal intranet; as well as several staff/officer groups that provide support. Specifically there is support provided via our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) which can be initiated either by the officer themselves or a supervisor. There are additional external agencies and groups that provide specific support to the police/staff as well as more generic groups that provide support to all, outside of this. These are well signposted on the intranet landing page for all officers and staff.

Q6 - What steps are being taken to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues among police officers?

The Met is committed to improving the health and wellbeing of its workforce. The organisation is dedicated to creating an environment where health and wellbeing is not just aspirational but is also sustainable and embedded in the psyche of the business. Police work is unique. It is highly rewarding and offers diverse opportunities, however it is also one of the most physically and psychologically challenging sectors to work in. The Met provides a comprehensive OH service which has specialist trained staff who have additional access to internal and external health support functions. OH will provide or signpost the most appropriate support and help get officers and staff back to work where, and when, appropriate.

Q7 - How is the effectiveness of mental health support services for police officers measured and evaluated?

Provision of OH services, including mental health support services, are regularly reviewed and monitored. This is aligned to service delivery to ensure the Met is embedding and supporting the health and wellbeing of its officers.