Police Scotland backs new package of mental health support for Emergency Services workers across the UK announced by the Duke of Cambridge

The Duke of Cambridge has today (Thursday, 25 November, 2021) announced a new uniform approach to supporting the mental health of the UK's emergency responder workforce.

Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie represented Police Scotland at the event in London.

It saw emergency services across each of the home nations committing to a uniform approach to supporting the mental health of their emergency responder workforce.

The Chief Officers of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, National Fire Chiefs Council and Association of Ambulance Chief Executives made the public pledge on behalf of their organisations at The Royal Foundation’s Emergency Services Mental Health Symposium.

In addition, HM Coastguard (as Chair of UK Search and Rescue, UKSAR) has also signed the Commitment and will be working with UKSAR members to embed its standards to support the wellbeing of their staff and volunteers.

It forms part of the Blue Light Together package of mental health support announced today by The Duke of Cambridge, which has seen The Royal Foundation working together with emergency service leaders and partner charities to change the workplace culture on mental health and provide specialist support to emergency responders and their families.

One of the key people involved in developing Blue Light Together is Police Scotland Superintendent Iain Thomson of PPCW Division, who is currently seconded to the Royal Foundation.

Speaking at today’s Symposium, The Duke of Cambridge said:

“This is an unprecedented agreement, and it sends a powerful message to all emergency responders that mental health is, and will remain, a firm priority for the UK’s emergency services.

“It means that, for the first time, a uniform set of standards for supporting the mental health of emergency responders will be adopted and integrated into their workplaces.

“This is a crucial step in ensuring that the staff and volunteers who work so tirelessly for our nation can be properly protected.”

The Mental Health at Work Commitment for The Emergency Services means that every emergency service organisation in the UK will:

• ​Prioritise mental health in the workplace by developing and delivering a systematic programme of activity
• Proactively ensure work design and organisational culture drive positive mental health outcomes
• Promote an open culture around mental health
• Increase organisational confidence and capability
• Provide mental health tools and support
• Increase transparency and accountability through internal and external reporting.

Built on a framework from the 2017 Thriving at Work employment review, co-authored by Mind CEO Paul Farmer, the Commitment will be integrated into each organisation’s existing wellbeing strategies.

They are accompanied by a Wellbeing Impact Assessment to apply to new and existing policies under review and tailored guidance informed by mental health charities and emergency service experts in recognition of the unique challenges faced by their workforces.

The Commitment, signed by the Chief Officers on behalf of their members, includes a note welcoming future assessments by the respective independent oversight bodies to further improve mental health support.

It forms part of the Blue Light Together package of mental health support for the Emergency Services, announced today by The Duke of Cambridge.

The Royal Foundation’s Blue Light Together programme of work has been supported by an Emergency Services Senior Leaders Board working in partnership to deliver on recommendations from a research project commissioned by The Royal Foundation and published by King’s College London and the Open University in 2020.

Convened by The Duke of Cambridge, the Board has been working closely with charity partners over the past year to identify solutions and share best practice to ensure that emergency responders and their families can access the advice and support relevant to the unique challenges they face.

Supporting the Commitment, further measures announced today under the Blue Light Together include:
​The ‘Blue Light Together’ resource website – Providing blue light workers, their friends, families and retirees with specialised information and advice tailored to their needs and experiences. The website includes specialised information and advice to help emergency responders with mental health, real-life stories and tips from colleagues working in the field, and guides for employers so that they can support their teams with their wellbeing. It has been produced in partnership with Mind, The Ambulance Staff Charity, Police Care UK and The Fire Fighters Charity and has been developed to build upon the work being carried out across the UK. The platform will complement the Lifelines Scotland website, which provides support to the emergency responder community across Scotland.
Blue Light Together Network of Emergency Services Therapists – Working in partnership with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), The Royal Foundation is funding the creation of a directory of therapists who have experience of specialising in addressing the complex mental health needs of emergency responders and will be made available to all those in need of support. Working alongside the BACP, the therapists will be offered ongoing peer support and continuing professional development to ensure they can provide the best possible care to emergency responders. This will be accessible via the Blue Light Together website.
Martin Hewitt, Chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, signed the Commitment on behalf of all Chief Constables, and said: “The wellbeing of our officers is a priority for all police chiefs, as we know that policing is by its nature a stressful job, and that officers are exposed to some of life’s most challenging situations on a daily basis. The work being done by The Royal Foundation, led by the Duke of Cambridge, is of the utmost importance and we are proud to contribute to it. Such partnerships allow us to make great strides in changing attitudes towards mental health in society, and provide faster and more effective support for those who need it the most.”

Mental Wellbeing Minister Kevin Stewart, said: “Scotland’s emergency services staff work hard to keep people across our nation safe, often in the face of incredibly challenging situations which can have an impact on mental wellbeing. Each of the emergency services takes the mental health and wellbeing of their staff extremely seriously and make available a range of support services and information. In recent years the Scottish Government has been able to provide funding to Lifelines Scotland to help support staff in the emergency services and voluntary sector responders through online advice and training.”