UNISON’s policing arm has become the first national policing body to back the STEP (Suicide Trauma Education Prevention) campaign.
Chair of the Hampshire Policing Federation Spencer Wragg has called for improved mental health support and suicide prevention measures across police forces.
The decision for UNISON to back the campaign came after a moving speech by Mr Wragg, who launched the campaign after nearly taking his own life six years ago.
He said: "Suicide is truly non-discriminatory. It doesn’t care if you’re a call handler, if you're a chief constable, it doesn’t care where you live."
READ MORE: Care home serving 'unhealthy' food told it is in breach of regulations by watchdog
The campaign calls for mandatory debriefs for officers after traumatic incidents and aims to break the stigma around suicide.
Mr Wragg said: "Policing is about saving lives and there is no shame in doing what we can to protect our own lives as well."
STEP also advocates for wider use of the Stay Alive app, which offers immediate crisis support.
When he became Chair of Hampshire Police Federation earlier this year, Spencer started talking more about suicide prevention in public and put a social media post out.
Only three weeks later Spencer found himself supporting a police family through losing a loved one.
Spencer was moved to start the STEP campaign, but he emphasised that “this isn’t just a Hampshire issue”.
Share