LEAP Europe’s Post

Discover how pioneering voices from law enforcement are uniting at the United Nations #CND67 to address the mental health crisis in #police and explore the potential of #psychedelics. Law enforcement and first responders face traumatic events daily. The stigma surrounding mental health challenges in these professions often deters individuals from seeking the help they need, while traditional treatments for depression, addiction, and PTSD frequently fall short. As some turn to psychedelics for relief, they navigate a complex landscape filled with legal, financial, and accessibility hurdles, not to mention the risks associated with self-medication and retreats that don't fully address their specific trauma-related needs. Our campaign brings this urgent conversation to the global stage, advocating for access to safe, effective, and specialised treatments. It's not just about compassion; it's about enhancing the effectiveness of our public safety efforts through better mental health support. >> Have you or someone you know in the first responder community sought alternative therapies for PTSD or other mental health issues? We'd love to hear your stories as we start this awareness camapaign. #MentalHealthAwareness #PublicSafety #AlternativeTherapies #Psychedelics #MDMA

As part of the NHS England’s health and justice inclusive workforce programme, we developed the non-custodial career and competence framework. This framework is helping the health and justice workforce by providing clearly outlined roles and progression routes, allowing employers and individuals to understand how they contribute to service outcomes.   Non-custodial pathways support some very crucial elements of the justice sector: ✅ Supporting rehabilitation by making sure individuals get the healthcare they need, such as help with substance abuse or mental health ✅ Helping increase out-of-court resolutions and reducing the strain on custody and detention systems ✅ Safeguarding vulnerable people and helping prevent individuals entering the criminal justice system Read the full case study: https://ow.ly/ARww50SPcvK #Framework #Workforce #JusticeServices 

Moving knowledge of the mind and thinking and behavioural alternatives, upstream is the solution. Situations in life will always be difficult, but they don't have to become adversity. That really depends on mental agility. Achieved through new knowledge it enhances your ability to harness alternative responses. There are solutions. New solutions start with new thinking. In Mindsmith Thinking we focus on mental agility, ideally provided at the earliest opportunity. #suicideprevention #mentalhealth

https://lnkd.in/dpGhqtfr Glad to see attention being drawn to such a critical issue. Whilst I'm proud that I get to devote my working life to being part of the solution, I also feel deep empathy for the officers and I'm unsurprised by the stories told in the article. There simply isn't enough funding for Forces to provide the specialist and longitudinal support that is needed to all who need it. I know at Gloucestershire we do all that we can, but what we "can" isn't always enough. It troubles me regularly. More needs to be done to ensure all Forces are able to allocate sufficient resources. The NHS needs bolstering to meet the mental health needs of the whole population, which includes police officers. There is so much amazing work underway linked to The Police Covenant that can't come soon enough. If I could pick just a few things that the Home Office could do to help it would be: - Mandatory training of GPs on policing health inequalities - Fast tracking of Police Officers with symptoms of PTSD to high intensity services - Ring fenced funding for OH/Wellbeing staffing resources and therapeutic budgets. - The last one is a biggie... FUND ADEQUATE POLICE NUMBERS TO MANAGE THE DEMANDS OF MODERN POLICING. Locally this would allow Forces to: - provide annual psychological screening for ALL not just "high risk" - pre-retirement PTSD screening - trauma therapy for all who need it for as long as they need it (with an appropriate exit strategy) - strengthen preventative programmes which build resilience. - reduce the unrelenting trauma load of officers through adequate officer numbers I am pleased to say that at Gloucestershire locally there has been investment in recent years which has gone a long way. But without National leverage (and funding) we are scraping the surface. Healthier Officers = Less crime and improved outcomes to victims. SIMPLES.

Mental health in policing and police custody https://lnkd.in/eSeJ-mFB From my perspective the good intentions are failing. Per Agreement to support mental health care and free up police time (England) https://lnkd.in/eT6XSTQ3 "The police are often not the most appropriate agency to respond to mental health incidents, which can result in greater distress for people with mental health needs and prevents police officers from carrying out their other duties." Wales needs effective Mental Health Care. The police should decline to respond. Instead ambulances should. My facebook posts refer

“We need more research [on] … people who have gone through these pipelines. They’re being referred and diverted from the criminal justice system. What are their outcomes when they’re on the other side?” –CCJ Senior Fellow Thaddeus Johnson in WORLD https://lnkd.in/gg8ZqjPP Calls to shift certain police functions to other agencies and organizations – or pair healthcare responders with officers in the field - have increased in recent years, with the goal of reducing police use of force during encounters with people undergoing a mental health crisis. CCJ’s Task Force on Policing examined the research on crisis intervention teams and other co-responder models and public safety partnerships. Check out the group’s conclusions and guidance for jurisdictions: https://lnkd.in/gA8ZRH3

Comprehensive Reforms Planned for Mental Health Act The Mental Health Bill, announced in the King’s Speech on 17 July, aims to amend the Mental Health Act 1983 to provide detained individuals with greater choice and autonomy, enhanced rights, and better support. Its main elements are: Ensuring detention and treatment under the Mental Health Act occur only when necessary by revising the detention criteria to detain only those who pose a serious risk of harm to themselves or others. Further limiting the detention and treatment of people with learning disabilities and/or autism. Strengthening the voice of patients by legally enforcing their rights to be involved in planning their care. Removing police stations and prisons as places of safety under the Mental Health Act. A spokesperson for a major health organisation said: “We welcome the priority given to delivering long overdue reforms to the Mental Health Act. A society can be judged by how it treats its most vulnerable, and these carefully considered reforms will mean people who find themselves detained under the Act can have greater confidence that the restrictions they face are proportionate and applied with dignity and respect.” Another leading figure in mental health described the reform of the Mental Health Act as a “once-in-a-generation” opportunity. They highlighted the high number of detentions and emphasised the need to update the law. They also stressed the importance of addressing racial disparities and eliminating Community Treatment Orders, which are often intrusive and ineffective. These ambitious reforms will need funding and resources to be fully realised. With the collaboration of the new UK government, this opportunity can lead to comprehensive and necessary reform of the mental health system, ensuring it meets modern needs and standards. #mentalhealth #mondaymotivation

🔔The June edition of POLICE magazine is now out. 🔔 In this edition of #POLICEMag, we honour this year’s incredible National Police Bravery nominees and their heroic actions in serving our communities. Read more on the positive news that the Home Office Policing Productivity Review supports our #SimplifyDG6 campaign. The Home Office funded Policing Productivity Review announced investment in technology to “enable police officers to spend less time in the office, and more in our communities”, but the government has disappointingly ignored key recommendations from the review to mitigate barriers to a more productive criminal justice system. #AskTwice campaign was launched as part of May’s Mental Health Awareness Week. The campaign aims to challenge negative attitudes within policing towards mental health, instead encouraging an open and supportive culture within policing. #AskTwice also gathers under one banner useful assets and sources of help for all areas of wellbeing for the first time in policing. #POLICEMag Read more 👇 https://lnkd.in/e2FyhnqZ

The Washington Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) acknowledges the vital role played by community supervision staff in our state. These dedicated individuals work tirelessly to address the challenges in their field. As we observe Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Supervision (PPPS) week, we encourage a deeper understanding of the growing field of Pretrial Justice and the far-reaching impact of pretrial decisions. We are dedicated to raising awareness by collaborating with and showcasing the efforts of pretrial practitioners in our state who are actively seeking community-based solutions for low-risk defendants. One such initiative includes pretrial diversion programs under the Washington State Health Care Authority, with focus on diverting individuals with mental health and or substance use concerns, providing them the opportunity to address these concerns in community rather than being held in custody. The 2024 theme, Wellness Unveiled: Navigating the Journey, serves as a reminder of the demanding and invaluable work carried out by supervision staff. This underscores the importance of prioritizing self-care and healing for these individuals. Resources: -National Association of Pretrial Services Agencies (NAPSA): www.napsa.org/home -Advancing Pretrial Policy and Research/Center For Effective Public Policy: www.cepp.com/project/appr/ -A Framework for Pretrial Justice/NIC: https://lnkd.in/gkfRaRsb -National Institute of Corrections: https://lnkd.in/g7tETYfY -Pretrial Justice Institute (PJI): https://www.pretrial.org #PPPSWeek #pretrial #pretrialjustice #courtinnovation #washingtonstate #washingtoncourts

Addressing the Current Disorder: The Strain on Policing and the Need for Balanced Reporting. The current disorder we are facing in the UK is putting a significant strain on policing across the country. The scarcity of officers specialising in public order situations means that the majority of police personnel are pulled from their primary roles in response and neighbourhood policing duties. This issue is not new to me; I experienced it firsthand during the 2011 riots that erupted across the UK following the Mark Duggan incident in London. At the time, I was leading a Neighbourhood Team in a particularly busy and challenging area. However, like many of my colleagues, I was reassigned to manage the public order situation. What concerns me deeply is the growing trend of assaults and blatant disrespect towards officers. Such behaviour is becoming alarmingly commonplace, driven by a largely one-sided narrative perpetuated by much of the national press. We desperately need a more balanced approach from our media. When people are in need of help with crime and disorder, they call the police, not Ghostbusters. This imbalance in reporting does a disservice to the reality of policing and the vital role officers play in our communities. Sir Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper undoubtedly have a monumental task ahead of them in addressing these challenges. The actions of the Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, who recently pushed a reporter’s microphone away as he left a Cobra meeting, only exacerbate the situation. Such incidents fuel the media’s anti-police rhetoric, which is gaining more traction every day. Our police force is essential, and I am proud to have served for over 20 years. While there will always be a few bad apples in any large organisation, the vast majority of officers perform their duties admirably. In today’s environment, policing is a far more difficult and thankless job than ever before. It is crucial that we all play a part in readdressing the balance. Imagine a society without the police service—it is an unimaginable scenario. Let us support our police and strive for a more balanced narrative in the media. Only by doing so can we ensure the safety and well-being of our communities. #policing #neighbourhoodpolicing #press