Federation welcomes efforts to work together on suicide prevention

24 February 2022

A consensus statement which sets out the police service’s future commitment to suicide prevention has been welcomed by Hertfordshire Police Federation.

The statement was developed by the National Police Wellbeing Service, Oscar Kilo, which worked alongside the UK Health Security Agency to learn from the ambulance service’s approach to suicide prevention and provide guidance for policing.

It acknowledges progress has been made to reduce mental health stigma but recognises organisations must better work together on the important issue.

Hertfordshire Police Federation secretary Al Wollaston welcomed the document which has also received the full backing of the Police Federation of England and Wales, National Police Chiefs’ Council, College of Policing, Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, Home Office, UNISON and Police Superintendents’ Association.

Al said: “This a very important document and shows that policing takes this issue extremely seriously.

“We are always keen to promote initiatives around suicide awareness and officer wellbeing because they are a top priority. 

“But we have to recognise that, for some colleagues, there is still some sort of stigma attached to mental health issues despite the vast improvements that have been made in recent years.

“This consensus statement is another step in the right direction and we support anything that helps raise awareness and offers a supportive hand to colleagues in need.”

A number of key steps are already being taken after the publication of the consensus statement.

The officer and staff safety review proposal to improve the way data is recorded on police officer and staff death, serious injury and suicide has also been agreed and will now be progressed.

In addition, a toolkit funded and commissioned by the National Police Wellbeing Service working closely with the Samaritans will be made available to all forces in the spring and will also be accessible via the Oscar Kilo website.

Police Federation national vice-chair Ché Donald said: “While the national consensus statement represents a welcome first step in helping to tackle this issue, it’s only the beginning of a more collective approach which we hope will pay dividends in the longer run.

“Our combined aim is to break down the many existing barriers to help-seeking. Only by working together within the service can we help to transform attitudes, and increase the confidence of those who might otherwise shun the existing support services available for depression and mental illness. 

“This means confining some attitudes and language to the past, ensuring colleagues are protected from burn-out because of work demands, and providing effective health screening and better support for those in high stress roles. 

“It’s crucial the service offers the very best care to colleagues and their family members, and that lessons are learnt from every single tragedy, so others don’t similarly suffer in the future.”