Sir Mark Rowley, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, has announced the police force will no longer attend non-life threatening 999 calls related to mental health issues.
This plan is expected to be in place from September, with a long list of mental health trusts across London drawing up plans to support this ongoing plan.
The Metropolitan Police and mental health trusts across the country believe this is a step in the right direction for dealing with the high number of 999 calls the force gets on a daily basis.
The Metropolitan Police have long argued a significant portion of their force are called out to mental health issues, who require more support from social and medical services than the police force.
According to Sir Mark Rowley, the Metropolitan police spend a staggering 10,000 hours a week attending mental health related 999 calls , with the average call taking 14 hours to resolve.
Whilst this decision might not come as a shock to anyone working within the Metropolitan police force, the British Psychological Society stated they find this decision incredibly concerning considering the scale of the problem and the negative impact and consequences this will have on those suffering with mental health issues.
In his statement, Rowley urged the health services to take a leading role in dealing with these issues, as the police are “too busy fighting crime, maintaining safe communities and supporting victims of crime.”
Police officers are not fully trained in dealing with mental health incidents, yet find themselves attending call outs for all manner of mental health issues, often with little to no support from healthcare professionals.
Rowley believes the failure is two fold. In his statement, he highlighted the Metropolitan police are failing Londoners by sending unqualified police officers who simply aren’t equipped at dealing with a mental health crisis.
Secondly, he believes the second failing comes from allowing police officers to attend mental health calls over preventing and fighting crime, as well as attending to victims.
Mental health in crisis
The extent of the mental health crisis is no secret to anyone. In fact, according to Mind, approximately 20 million adults across the UK don’t ever ask for help with their mental health issues.
This simply highlights the extent of the mental health crisis in the UK, as the Metropolitan Police continue to remain inundated with calls from people who have no other option but to seek help.
The cost of living crisis has been cited as one of the factors responsible for contributing towards the mental health crisis and it shows no sign of slowing down. In fact, 8 in every 10 adults living in the UK say the cost of living crisis has impacted their life, with 78% admitting the crisis has worsened their mental health.
Protecting your mental health
Protecting your mental health is more important now than ever before. There are a number of ways you can protect and improve your mental health, without having to seek professional help from a counsellor or doctor.
However, it is important to know when to seek professional help. If you think that you are suffering from a mental health disorder, such as depression, anxiety, paranoia or schizophrenia then it is time to seek professional help from your local GP surgery or health care provider. B
elow is a list of other tips and tricks on how you can better your own mental health.
Get closer to nature
One way of protecting your mental health is to get outside and immerse yourself into nature. Studies have shown getting out into nature improves your overall mood, reduces stress and tension and also improves your confidence and self esteem.
Getting out into nature is also a form of exercise, which has also been proven to improve your mood and reduce any negative feelings. If you are feeling low, then why not go out to your local park, a local beach or a forest nearby?
You can go with friends, family or by yourself. You can listen to the sounds of the birds and animals nearby, or you can pop some headphones in and listen to music or an audiobook.
Manage and understand your emotions
If you’re struggling with your mental health, then try speaking to a professional to help you understand your emotions, thoughts and feelings.
Only by understanding how you feel and why you might feel that way will you be able to overcome your negative thoughts and emotions.
Some people create coping mechanisms when they start to feel anxious, sad or depressed.
This could be going on a walk, talking to certain friends or family members or talking to a therapist or helpline to receive professional help.
Manage your finances and any debt
If you are struggling with your finances, then this could be having an impact on your mental health without you even realising it. In fact, according to the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute, money and mental health are intrinsically linked.
In fact, almost half of all individuals who are in debt also have mental health problems [3]. In addition to this, over 70% of all respondents of a study looking into money and mental health stated their mental health issues only made their issues worse.
If your mental health is suffering because of your finances, try to get help. Whilst being in debt can seem daunting, there is help out there.
For example, you can talk to a private, independent financial adviser or someone at Citizens Advice for help and support.
Avoid consuming drugs and alcohol
Unfortunately, mental health issues and substance use are also intrinsically linked. This is because typically, those addicted to drugs and alcohol tend to experience mental health issues as a result of their addiction.
On the other hand, suffering from mental health issues often leads people to turn to drugs and alcohol as a crutch.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, there are a range of treatment techniques including behavioural therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy and medication such as antidepressants.
You can get help on moderating your drinking from organisations such as Alcohol Concern. If you’re drinking has become an addiction, then it might be better to check out an alcohol rehab in London, you can get help here from a trusted provider of detox and rehabilitation services in London, Rehab Recovery.
What does this decision mean?
Whilst Rowley clearly believes this is a step forward for the Metropolitan police, his decision has left many individuals and charities within London uneasy and anxious about what lies ahead.
If the plan goes ahead, this will be one of the biggest changes and transitions in the force for a number of years. The British Psychological Society argues this transition needs to be managed effectively and with the public and their needs in mind.
Dr Roman Raczka from the British Psychological Society suggests the Commissioner and the Metropolitan police follow Humberside Police’s Right Care, Right Person policy and scheme, which saw all call handlers undergoing training before triaging incoming calls to determine whether or not they require a police officer or someone from the healthcare or social services.
This seems to be the plan, as the Metropolitan police force are now in discussion with other services including health and social services to test and roll out the plan.
