Senior Leader Support
A confidential mental health support line is available to superintendents and chief officers, providing a route to professional help and advice for any member experiencing mental health challenges.
This is a pilot project, which has been developed in collaboration with the Chief Police Officers' Staff Association and Oscar Kilo - the National Police Wellbeing Service. The project is in response to survey results from both staff associations.
PSA member surveys recently showed:
· 67% of respondents experienced stress, low mood, anxiety or other mental health difficulties.
· 90% of those people said that these feelings were caused, or made worse by work
· 88% report low morale with 58% saying that morale has decreased in the last year
CPOSA's recent member survey showed:
· 85% have not taken all of their leave
· 94% of respondents work whilst on leave or ensured they are easily contactable
· More than 80% work in excess of 50 hours per week, with 23% working 60-70 hours per week
We also know that many senior leaders are aware of the support services available in force, but choose not to use them. This service is designed to provide an alternative route to help, which is external from forces.
How to access support
How to access support
If you feel you would like to talk to someone about the challenges you’re facing, email [email protected]. A member of the ‘Just B’ team – an organisation providing emotional wellbeing support, will be in touch within 48 hours.
Emails can be sent at any time, but they are monitored from Monday – Friday, 9am-5pm.
A phone call will be arranged with a professional counsellor who will listen to your concerns as part of a one hour session. It allows you to make contact with a qualified counsellor who will provide a safe space for you to explore and express how you are feeling. This initial call will provide an opportunity to better understand your needs and how best to access further support if needed.
Emails can be sent at any time, but they are monitored from Monday – Friday, 9am-5pm.
A phone call will be arranged with a professional counsellor who will listen to your concerns as part of a one hour session. It allows you to make contact with a qualified counsellor who will provide a safe space for you to explore and express how you are feeling. This initial call will provide an opportunity to better understand your needs and how best to access further support if needed.
Frequently asked questions and answers can be found here. Please note this service is available to all members of CPOSA, the PSA, the Superintendents' Association of Northern Ireland (SANI) and the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents (ASPS).
Peer Support Programme
The PSA’s Peer Support Programme is available for all current members.
Association members have volunteered to become trained in skills to provide help and guidance to colleagues on a range of issues, acting as a critical friend to peers needing independent support.
New members who join the association will be proactively contacted with the offer of personal support around career development or wellbeing needs and where appropriate, paired with a peer who will provide this help based on their training and experience.
Current members who are experiencing issues with which they would benefit from peer support can also contact the national office to be partnered with a colleague who can provide this objective help.
New members who join the association will be proactively contacted with the offer of personal support around career development or wellbeing needs and where appropriate, paired with a peer who will provide this help based on their training and experience.
Current members who are experiencing issues with which they would benefit from peer support can also contact the national office to be partnered with a colleague who can provide this objective help.
What is peer support?
Peer support is when people use their own experiences to help each other. It is different from the specialist, tailored help you might receive from a GP, counsellor or therapist but can still be effective.
The aim of peer support is to:
- bring together people with shared experiences who can support each other
- provide a confidential space where you feel accepted and understood
- treat everyone's experiences as being equally important
- encourage both giving and receiving support.
With peer support, everyone's views and experiences are equally valued. No one is seen as being more of an expert than anyone else. It's not always about getting or giving advice. It is sometimes just about having a safe space to get things off our chest.
Is peer support right for me?
It’s completely normal to find it difficult to open up, and you may feel nervous about sharing your experiences with others. Peer support can often be a helpful first step. Remember, the process of peer support is about speaking to someone with shared experiences, so the person you’re speaking to probably feels (or has felt) the same way you do.
You are in control of a peer support session, and it is entirely up to you how much you share – but before seeking peer support, you might want to think about whether it’s right for you and what you want to get from it.
Things to think about:
- Peer support is a confidential process and is based on everyone being treated with fairness, respect and understanding.
- Peer support can be a two-way process so it’s important to think carefully about how you’re feeling. Could it be difficult to hear about other people’s experiences? While it can be helpful to hear how other people have coped, there might be times when it’s triggering or upsetting for you.
- Remember that you'll be hearing people's personal experiences and strategies, and, that what worked for them, may not be right for you
- How much support you give and receive can vary depending on what feels right for you at different times.
- Although many people find peer support helpful, not everyone does – and that’s ok!
- Some people find peer support useful at some times and not others. If you try it and it hasn't helped, that’s not your fault, it's important not to blame yourself.
- If it's not the right thing for you now, you will still be able to access it in the future if you want to.
How to access a trained peer supporter
Any member who would like to access a trained peer should email [email protected].
You will be paired with a colleague who has undertaken training.
Volunteer as a peer supporter
If you would like to volunteer your time to become a trained peer supporter, short half-day courses are available, supplied by Oscar Kilo.
Forthcoming dates for 2025 are:
June 17th - Refresher training
July 22nd - Initial training
September 2nd - Refresher training
October 7th - Initial training
November 11th - Refresher training
December 9th - Initial training.
The course runs from 0900-1230. To secure a place, email: [email protected]
Third party support is available for members on a range of health and wellbeing issues. If you are in need of wellbeing support that is not addressed here, or through the National Police Wellbeing Service, please contact us.