Mental health consultancy partners with GMP to enhance police wellbeing

Staff working in GMP’s Digital Forensic Investigations Unit (DFIU), the Sex Offender Management Unit (SOMU) and the Online Child Abuse Investigation Team (OCAIT) will benefit from the clinically-led mental health support, to help them deal with what can often be extremely challenging scenarios.

It is being delivered by Cheshire-based mental health consultancy Eleos Group and aims to strengthen mental wellbeing support for officers and staff.

The move forms part of GMP’s ongoing commitment to staff wellbeing and supporting frontline staff who perform crucial work to protect the local community.

Eleos Group will work directly with more than 80 staff across the DFIU, SOMU and OCAIT teams.

The programme will provide essential support for staff working in high-pressure, emotionally demanding environments and help them maintain resilience while performing their vital role.

Working closely with GMP’s wellbeing and leadership teams, Eleos Group is applying its clinical expertise to help shape sustainable, evidence-based frameworks that encourage early intervention, resilience and promote a culture of open dialogue around mental health.

The consultancy’s work with GMP forms part of a wider drive across policing to create mentally healthy workplaces that not only support individuals, but also strengthen the effectiveness and long-term resilience of the service as a whole.

Through tailored guidance, training and strategy development, the consultancy is helping to ensure officers and staff feel equipped and confident to recognise and support both their own mental health needs, and those of their colleagues. Eleos Group will work collaboratively with GMP’s leadership team to ensure the process is not only inclusive but also sustainable, working with stakeholders across the force to ensure principles are designed and embraced by those they support.

This makes GMP one of the first police forces in the UK to implement such a proactive, hands-on approach to building mental health provision for police officers and police staff.

Speaking about how the partnership supports GMP’s goals, Superintendent Jen Tattersall, said: “We recognise that many of our roles can expose our officers and staff to distressing and challenging material, which can then have a long-term, cumulative impact on mental wellbeing.

“Our partnership with Eleos plays a key role in ensuring our teams are supported, resilient and able to continue performing their duties safely and effectively.

“The services provided give officers confidential access to professional support, early intervention and practical coping strategies which are tailored to tackling the realities of policing.

“Having support services available encourages officers to seek support at their own pace and ensures they are still prioritising their personal health and wellbeing.”

Dr Claire Bullen-Foster, chief executive officer of Eleos Group, added: “Our ongoing work with GMP demonstrates a shared commitment to protect the wellbeing of those who protect others. Police staff often face unique psychological pressures, and supporting their mental health is essential to maintaining a resilient and effective police service.

“This collaboration is about building lasting frameworks that encourage people to ask for help, to support one another, and to sustain their wellbeing over the long term.

“We’re incredibly proud of our partnership with GMP, which reflects a shared commitment to embedding meaningful mental health strategies in police forces, so that they can keep delivering such an important service to the public.”