Hello, I’m John Junior, a mental health activist dedicated to supporting people in crisis, raising awareness and campaigning for change.

After suddenly losing my dad in 2018, I wanted to turn my own experiences into something that could help others. In 2019, I began taking my best friend Charlie,  a teddy duck, out with me while supporting people experiencing mental health difficulties, helping them feel less alone and signposting them to support.

Those experiences are a huge part of why I continue to campaign today, for every person experiencing a mental health crisis who deserves to be seen, heard and treated with respect!

My ongoing campaign is calling for a national standard of mental health crisis training for police officers, including Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), so officers have the knowledge, confidence and practical skills to respond when they encounter someone experiencing a mental health crisis.

Police officers already receive basic training and guidance relating to mental health and vulnerability.

The College of Policing states that officers should receive appropriate training and have a basic understanding of mental ill health and learning disabilities, and existing police training includes communication and de-escalation.

However, I believe we need to go further and establish a clear, consistent national standard so that the level of mental health crisis training an officer receives does not depend on where they serve.

Police officers can encounter people at some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. They may be dealing with someone frightened, distressed, suicidal, experiencing self-harm and/or struggling with their mental health.

Officers are not mental health professionals. But when police do encounter someone in crisis, they should have the best possible training to recognise vulnerability, communicate effectively, de-escalate situations where possible and understand how to help that person access appropriate professional support.

Preserving Life

The College of Policing has itself emphasised the importance of giving officers the skills they need when responding to life threatening incidents.

Gaynor Wardle, Head of Specialist Operations at the College of Policing, said:

“The first duty of all police officers is to preserve life, and on a daily basis officers are keeping people safe and responding to life threatening incidents.”

If preserving life is at the heart of policing, I believe comprehensive and consistent mental health crisis training should form part of preparing officers for that responsibility.

Why This Matters

People in crisis deserve an informed response

People experiencing a mental health crisis may be frightened, confused or unable to communicate in the way somebody normally would. Recognising vulnerability and understanding how to communicate with someone in distress can make a significant difference.

Consistency matters

The standard of mental health crisis training should not depend on which police force responds or where somebody happens to live. Officers across the country should have a strong and consistent foundation of knowledge and practical skills.

De-escalation matters

Communication, patience and de-escalation can be crucial when responding to someone in distress. Officers should have the confidence and training to use these skills effectively.

This is about supporting police officers too

Officers are routinely placed in incredibly difficult and complex situations. If society expects them to respond to vulnerable people in crisis, we should make sure they are properly equipped and supported to do so.

What I’m Calling For

I am calling on the Government, policing bodies, police forces and policymakers to work towards:

• A mandatory, nationally consistent standard of mental health crisis training for police officers.
• Mental Health First Aid principles and evidence-based crisis response, communication and de-escalation training to form part of that standard.
• Mental health training to be incorporated into police training and continuing professional development.
• Appropriate funding to ensure officers and forces can access high-quality training.
• Regular evaluation of training to ensure it reflects current evidence and best practice.
• Mental health professionals and people with lived experience to be involved in developing and reviewing training.

But reaching thousands of signatures was never the end of this campaign.

Sky News Coverage

I appeared on Sky News to discuss police responses to mental health calls and concerns around police attending fewer mental health-related incidents.

During the interview, I also spoke about mental health training for police officers and why officers need the knowledge and skills to respond when they encounter someone experiencing a mental health crisis.

Watch the Sky News interview below.

Sky News Interview

The Campaign Continues

I now want to work with MPs, policymakers, police leaders, mental health professionals and people with lived experience to take this campaign further and push for meaningful national change.

Police officers deserve the knowledge, training and tools to respond as safely and effectively as possible when they encounter someone in crisis.

14,665 people have already added their voices. Now I want those voices to help create change.

Please sign, share and support the campaign.

Thank you,

John Junior
Mental Health Activist