The \u201cfirst ripples\u201d of a mental health epidemic in policing could soon become a \u201ctidal wave\u201d unless a solution is found, according to South Yorkshire Police Federation.<\/p>\n
Federation Chair Steve Kent said forces were \u201clooking at the cusp of a wave\u201d which could strike disaster among policing.<\/p>\n
Since taking on his role, Steve said officers had taken their own lives for various reasons and warned the tragedies were \u201cnot stopping\u201d.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cWe are breaking our officers psychologically. If you speak to most officers conversationally, they\u2019re all anxious.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re anxious because they think they might get into trouble for something they were doing to the best of their ability.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re anxious because they hear the constant narrative that policing is corrupt, and the vast majority aren\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
Steve warned the intensifying pressure of the job combined with trauma witnessed by officers was creating a perfect storm.<\/p>\n
He feared many more lives could be lost before the Government and NPCC \u201cactually sit up and start to pay attention\u201d to the issue.<\/p>\n
Steve continued: \u201cWe are seeing officers who have been medically retired through mental health problems, and I think we are looking at the cusp of a wave<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to see some significant national investment into policing, and that includes psychological assessments for every police officer who is dealing with any kind of trauma.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe really need to change the narrative because, to use the term we use in the Federation, we are breaking our officers psychologically.\u201d<\/p>\n
Steve called for forces to be supported in making early interventions to better safeguard their staff.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cWe don\u2019t want to wait until someone\u2019s at crisis point, we need to start dealing with it now.\u201d<\/p>\n