Mental health training for officers during a crisis

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.25.047041

I note you seek access to the following information:

The training police officers get on mental health and how to handle it during a crisis (possibly in 2025 but 2024 and 2023 also work).

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full. Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

New recruit learning on the subject of mental health is informed by the relevant content within the National Police Curriculum. This is predominantly captured within the Vulnerability theme of the curriculum. The National Police Curriculum is updated twice per year by the College of Policing. All recruit learning programmes delivered by the MPS since 2021 have been designed in accordance with this national standard.

All Recruits on the MPS Police Constable recruit programmes receive a dedicated input on Mental Health within the first 17 weeks of initial learning. This is delivered prior to gaining any operational experience and supports recruits in achieving the learning outcomes set out above. This lesson includes:

• Completion of CoP e-Learning modules entitled Mental Health & the Police
(Modules 1&2). This includes:

o Definition of a mental health incident
o Defining mental health
o Mental health and vulnerability
o Learning disabilities
o Misconceptions
o Assessing capacity and associated powers
o Effective communication strategies
o De-escalation
o Detention and warrants
o Risk assessment based decision making
o Vulnerability – support, giving evidence, barriers to reporting, enabling reporting
o Vulnerable suspects and the relationship between mental health and offending
o Safe and well checks
o Collecting information using the Vulnerability Assessment Framework
o Recording and sharing information
o Partnership working
o S135 & S136 of the Mental Health Act 1983, including warrants
o Powers associated with the Mental Capacity Act 2005
o Right Care, Right Person

This is consolidated with in-person Mental Health classroom learning.

Transfer and re-joiner officers are also provided 2 e-learning packages on MH to complete, as part of their training. Transfer and re-joiners are also required to complete Public and Personal Safety Training (PPST), Emergency Life Support (ELS) training.

Mental Health Training Overview for Recruits and Officers

In addition to the specific modules described above, additional mental health-related content is embedded throughout the recruit training programme such as in Adult Safeguarding (Mental Health Act 1983), Vulnerability and Risk (group presentations on vulnerable subjects), and Missing Persons modules (discussions on mental health-related cases and relevant legislation).

There is also a joint input delivered on day two of recruit training in collaboration with Optima Health (Occupational Health). This input ensures the new recruits are aware of the Occupational services available to them, including those provided by Optima Heath
In addition to new recruit training, we provide a breadth of training to our substantive officers and staff:
• Our annual refresher training for all operational police officers like PPST and
ELS includes tactical communication, working with individuals suffering from
Acute Behavioural Disturbance, safer restraint considerations, and myth-
busting around mental illness and violence.

• Additionally, Mental Health First Aider training is available to office-based staff,
delivered in-house by qualified trainers. This training teaches how to
recognise mental health issues, provide initial support with active listening,
guide people to professional help, and reduce mental health stigma.

• The 2024/25 Leadership Development Programme for Middle and First Line
Leaders includes Wellbeing & Trauma Support. This module equips leaders to
foster psychologically safe environments, signpost support services, mitigate
trauma within teams, and apply personal resilience techniques.

Outside of L&D, we have reached out to Occupational Health and Wellbeing and they confirm the following training packages in addition to those above:

Demobilizing and Debriefing Training: A 2-day course delivered weekly by occupational health, open to all staff levels, focusing on demobilisation and debriefing practices. To provide officers and staff with the necessary knowledge & skills to identify situations where trauma can be experienced, explain why early intervention is beneficial for expedient resolution, explain the meanings and intentions of the terms Peer Support, Demobilisation, Defusing & Trauma Support Meeting and demonstrate that knowledge and skills in either a demobilisation or defusing practical exercise

TSM (Trauma Support Management): A 3-day monthly course delivered by OH for those who have completed D&D and have practical experience leading sessions. The TSM course provides officers and staff with the necessary knowledge and skills to: protect the psychological health and well-being of employees involved in traumatic incidents, demonstrate delivery of support to people affected by traumatic events, identify factors that promote normal recovery from a trauma and Identify individuals who may require further intervention

Additional MPS Training:

Trauma Intervention Practical Techniques (TIPT) – Delivered locally at Holborn trains how to process difficult life events in a productive manner. Attendees will learn how to manage their own reflective processes in a structured way.

Suicide Prevention Training – Delivery by HR and is open to all Officers and staff. Training sessions are scheduled twice a month. The aim of this training package is to give attendees a basic level of knowledge and skills to help them identify a colleague who is at risk and the practical steps to take to be able to provide support.

Mental Health Awareness Training – Delivered in 2023/24 by MIND Which covered common mental health problems including stress, anxiety and depression. Staying resilient and looking after your own wellbeing.