Mental Health Crisis Line toolkit

Suicide prevention matters. That’s why we’re launching the 24/7, independent and confidential Mental Health Crisis Line. It’s a dedicated service for everyone working in policing. It’s not for the general public. 

It’s completely independent and confidential.

Anyone who calls the Crisis Line will reach expert counsellors trained in suicide prevention who understand the world of policing. They will be able to provide immediate help in a crisis, keep callers safe and stable as well as signpost to more support. 

This service is being delivered in partnership with TASC, the Ambulance Staff charity, drawing on their experience of delivering a similar service for the ambulance and fire service.

The Crisis Line will assist us to support forces in providing word-class wellbeing support for staff and officers. We need your help to spread awareness of it and convey our key messages.

There are three essential key messages to get across when talking about the Crisis Line:

• The Crisis Line is confidential and completely independent from forces.
• The service is for anyone working in police and experiencing a mental health crisis or suicidal thoughts.
• It’s a 24/7/365 resource, specifically designed for staff and officers – not for the general public. 

To make sure everyone in policing knows about the Crisis Line, you can use your own intranet, website, in newsletters, bulletins, weekly briefings, internal calls and talk about it wherever and whenever else you can. 

To help you promote the Crisis Line, we’ve got a range of materials available. Digital assets can be downloaded below. 

The printed materials will be delivered to your force in August.

Please find below easy-to-download and use materials to help promote the Crisis Line. This includes example copy to share with your force, social media content and email signatures.

To make it as easy as possible to share on your intranet, we've drafted some example copy. This is just a suggestion, please feel to tweak:

A new 24/7/365 Mental Health Crisis Line is now available for anyone working in policing across England and Wales, who is experiencing a mental health crisis or suicidal thoughts.

If this is you, access the Crisis Line via 0300 131 2789.

We know that daily life is tough – and on top of that, working in policing can expose you to traumatic situations that have an impact on your mental health. It is important to seek help when you need it – you are not alone.

Launched by Oscar Kilo, the National Police Wellbeing Service, the Mental Health Crisis Line is a core part of their suicide prevention work.

Those who call the independent Crisis Line will talk to a qualified counsellor with experience of helping blue light workers in crisis situations. Call handlers will signpost staff and officers to more support based on individual needs, i.e. counselling, therapy or other support services.

None of the information shared will leave the call – it is a completely independent service.

If you want to find out more about the Crisis Line, click here: oscarkilo.org.uk/crisis-line

Suggested copy for posting on social media, please feel free to tweak:

Working in policing is tough – it often exposes staff and officers to traumatic situations, which can take a toll on your mental health.

If you work in policing and are going through a mental health crisis at the moment, you are not alone. There is help available.

@OscarKilo_UK is launching a new 24/7 Mental Health Crisis line – a completely independent and confidential service for those in policing who are experiencing a mental health crisis or suicidal thoughts.

The line is available for anyone working in policing in England and Wales – it’s not a service for the public. Calls will be picked up by qualified counsellors who understand the world of policing.

Find out more about the Mental Health Crisis Line here: oscarkilo.org.uk/crisis-line