Supporting Police: New Principles for Mental Health and Wellbeing in Policing

Supporting Police: New Principles for Mental Health and Wellbeing in Policing

Policing is a demanding profession - complex, fast-paced, and often unpredictable. Every day, police members respond to critical incidents, protect vulnerable members of the community, and navigate situations that test their emotional, physical and psychological resilience. Prioritising mental health and wellbeing is critical for all frontline and police personnel. 

Police Commissioners across Australia and New Zealand have renewed and strengthened their commitment to the health and wellbeing of their workforces by releasing the Australia and New Zealand Principles for Mental Health and Wellbeing in Policing (the Principles), a shared, evidence-informed set of Principles designed to promote a safe and supportive policing environment. 

Promoting and protecting the mental health and wellbeing of police has been an enduring priority for a number of years. Due to advancements in research, and new legislative and jurisdictional frameworks, the Principles have been developed to address changes our understanding of and approaches to supporting the health and wellbeing of police staff.  

Developed collaboratively by subject matter experts from police jurisdictions from Australia and New Zealand, and underpinned by research from leading mental health experts the Principles provide a consistent and strategic foundation to guide the development, implementation and evaluation of policies and practices that support police health and wellbeing. Importantly, they are designed to be flexible and adaptable—recognising the unique challenges faced by different jurisdictions, and supporting optimal physical and mental health throughout the career lifecycle of a police officer.

The key practice areas of, Protect, Promote and Respond, are underpinned by three levels of application: organisation, leadership, and individuals. This structure ensures that responsibility for mental health and wellbeing is shared across all levels of policing - from organisational culture, systems, senior leadership leading by example, to individuals taking steps to care for themselves and their colleagues.

Sanjeev Choudhary, Chair of the Australia New Zealand Police Health and Wellbeing Advisory Group (ANZPHWAG) and Director Health & Wellbeing at Victoria Police, emphasises the importance of a values led approach in supporting wellbeing.

“The application of clear, values-based principles in policing is critical to maintaining public trust, operational integrity, and workforce wellbeing. The Principles for Mental Health and Wellbeing in Policing embed a consistent and preventative approach to mental health and reinforce the importance of psychological safety. They also demonstrate an organisational commitment to proactive—not just reactive—support by reducing stigma and encouraging help-seeking behaviour. These principles promote a culture where mental health and wellbeing are viewed as essential expressions of professional strength and integrity.”

The updated Principles reflect contemporary understandings of psychosocial risk and proactive approaches to building workplace health and fitness. They aim to support jurisdictions in identifying and addressing hazards, promoting mental fitness, reducing stigma around seeking help, and encouraging early and compassionate responses to ill health.

The Principles endorse a culture of protection, promoting the aspects of work that contribute to wellbeing and prevention with an emphasis on early intervention and recovery. This means embedding health and wellbeing into everyday policing, from training and education to systems of support, leadership accountability and continuous improvement.

As a community, we understand that police must look after their wellbeing in order to protect others. These Principles reflect policing’s ongoing commitment to creating safe workplaces, where every member feels valued and supported.

Learn more about the Australia and New Zealand Principles for Mental Health and Wellbeing in Policing.

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