Mental Health Awareness Week 2026: Supporting Those Who Protect Others
From 11ā17 May 2026, Mental Health Awareness Week provides an important opportunity to focus on the wellbeing of those working across policing and defence particularly officers serving in demanding frontline and specialist roles.
Recent comments from Policing MinisterĀ Sarah JonesĀ reinforced the growing national recognition that officer wellbeing must become a priority across policing. Speaking at a national response policing conference, the Minister acknowledged the emotional and psychological toll placed upon officers who routinely deal with traumatic and challenging situations. The Government has since outlined plans to strengthen wellbeing provision across policing, including enhanced trauma support, improved psychological risk assessments for high-risk roles, and greater emphasis on officer development and welfare.
For the Defence Police Federation, the pressures associated with policing and the impact on both mental and physical wellbeing are issues that have always mattered deeply.
We understand that wellbeing is not simply about responding when problems arise, it is about ensuring officers have access to meaningful support throughout their service and beyond. Strong wellbeing support helps officers remain resilient, motivated and able to continue delivering the professional service they do daily protecting national infrastructure, carrying firearms, responding to critical incidents and supporting vulnerable members of the public.
That is why the Federation continues to invest in initiatives that directly support the welfare of our members. One of the key ways we do this is through funding members subscriptions to the Police Firearms Officers Association (PFOA). The work carried out by the PFOA provides valuable support to firearms officers and their families, including welfare assistance, guidance, peer support and access to specialist resources tailored to the unique pressures associated with armed policing roles.
The realities of firearms policing can place extraordinary demands on officers, both professionally and personally. Having access to dedicated welfare networks and specialist support can make a significant difference, particularly following traumatic incidents or periods of heightened operational pressure.
Alongside this support, the Defence Police Federation also encourages members and their families to make use of wider wellbeing services available throughĀ Police Mutual.
Following positive feedback from previous sessions, Police Mutual will be delivering additional virtual wellbeing and healthcare webinars throughout May and June. These sessions are designed to help Officers, Staff, PCSOs, Specials and their families better understand the free wellbeing support services available to them.
Importantly, family members are also welcome to attend, recognising that wellbeing support should extend beyond the workplace and into the home environment where many of the pressures of policing are also felt.
The Police Mutual webinars will be held on the dates and times advertised here.
To register for a session: Please email Jenny Makepeace using webinarsmailbox@policemutual.co.uk adding the date and time of the session you wish to join in the subject heading.
Mental Health Awareness Week is a reminder that while policing is a profession built on protecting others, officers themselves must also be supported and protected. Improving wellbeing provision is not simply beneficial for individuals, it strengthens our service as a whole.
The Defence Police Federation remains committed to ensuring members have access to the support, representation and welfare services they deserve.
