OFFICERS and staff from North Yorkshire Police are set to take part in new mental health training to help them deal with vulnerable people.

As part of a collaboration between the University of York, North Yorkshire Police and the College of Policing, mental health professionals from Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV) will deliver the training to randomly selected police officers and PCSOs across the force.

The training increases awareness and identification of mental health vulnerabilities, improves how incidents are recorded, and improves communication skills with people in mental distress.

Professor Martin Webber and Dr Nicola Moran from the department of social policy and social work at the university have developed the pilot scheme, and results will be published in academic and policing journals later this year.

Dr Moran said: "A significant amount of police time is spent dealing with incidents involving people who are mentally vulnerable. Whilst we are acutely aware that police officers are not, and indeed should not be, experts in mental health, they are often the first responders and yet have minimal training in this area."

Inspector Bill Scott said: "Police officers are not mental health experts but much of their work revolves around interaction with people with some degree of mental ill health – from mild to those in crisis.

"The training is designed to help officers and staff recognise the signs of mental ill health and the best course of action to take, what advice to seek and what other agencies can assist the person. We are pleased to be at the forefront of this vital area of training for the police service which is long overdue."

The results of the trial will also be presented to the funding body and published in academic and policing journals.