Sources of help for those in need of mental and emotional support
Mental Health — Authorised Professional Practice
Summary
This section of the College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice provides a comprehensive directory of resources for individuals seeking mental and emotional support. It outlines various support services, including the Samaritans, Mind, and numerous other organizations offering assistance to those in crisis or in need of emotional help. It highlights the importance of timely support for bereaved individuals and provides specific resources for police officers and their families, emphasizing the need for appropriate guidance when dealing with mental health issues. It serves as a practical guide for police officers to direct individuals towards the correct avenues for support during their interactions with the public.
Key principles
- 1Utilize a variety of emotional support resources available to the community.
- 2Encourage contact with support services for individuals in crisis.
- 3Direct bereaved individuals towards relevant mental health resources promptly.
- 4Support police officers and staff with mental health services.
- 5Provide accurate, updated contact information for all listed services.
Defined terms
- Mind Infoline
- The Mind Infoline team provides information on a range of topics, including types of mental health problems and where to get help.
- Mind Legal Line
- Mind Legal Line provides legal information and general advice on mental health-related law.
- Blue Light Programme
- Mind’s initiative specifically tailored to provide mental health support to emergency service staff.
This is a brief, factual summary. The full APP guidance — including operational detail, statutory references and case studies — lives on the College of Policing website. APP is the authoritative source for UK policing practice.
Read the full APP guidanceSource: College of Policing — Authorised Professional Practice · Crown copyright, licensed under Open Government Licence v3.0. Summary fetched 2026-06-27.