As French police increasingly serve as first responders in mental health crises-with nearly 30% of schizophrenia cases initially involving police contact-a new training programme is aiming to bridge a critical gap in officer preparedness. Launched in April 2024, the initiative in the Île-de-France region provides law enforcement with specialized tools to de-escalate situations and connect individuals with appropriate care, responding to a reported need for such training among 80% of officers surveyed. Early results indicate the program is yielding positive outcomes, including a reported reduction in the use of force.
A new training program in France is equipping police officers with the tools to better respond to individuals experiencing mental health crises.
Launched in April 2024, the initiative addresses a significant gap in training for law enforcement, who are often the first responders when someone with a mental health condition needs help. This is particularly true for individuals with schizophrenia, where nearly 30% initially encounter the psychiatric system through police intervention, according to psychiatrists involved in the program. Effective responses to mental health crises are a growing public health priority, as are efforts to reduce unnecessary use of force.
Psychiatrists Marine Akkaoui and Théo Duquesne, from the Centre psychiatrique d’orientation et d’accueil (CPOA), discovered through a survey of 200 police officers in the Paris region that 80% felt they needed specific training in this area. The survey revealed officers frequently struggle with recognizing mental health symptoms, navigating potentially volatile situations, and knowing how to connect individuals with appropriate care. Common misconceptions about mental illness – such as the belief that people with psychiatric conditions are inherently dangerous – also persist.
“There is no training on the subject in their curriculum, yet for nearly 30% of patients with schizophrenia, the first contact with psychiatry is through the police,” Akkaoui noted.
A Training Program Designed with Officers’ Needs in Mind
The training program was developed based on the findings of the survey, ensuring it directly addresses the concerns and challenges faced by officers in the field. “We used the results of our study to build a training program that closely matches the expectations of police officers, based on their questions, difficulties, doubts, and the situations they are most exposed to on the ground,” explained Duquesne.
Officers routinely encounter individuals experiencing agitation, suicidal thoughts, delusions, or those under the influence of substances. The training aims to provide practical strategies for de-escalation and appropriate intervention.
“We explain to police officers that a person who is very delirious and says no, it’s not necessarily a refusal to comply. Perhaps they are very anxious and do not understand what is happening,” Akkaoui said.
350 Officers Trained in the Île-de-France Region
As of this writing, 350 police officers have completed the 35 training sessions offered since the program’s launch in April 2024, according to Yannick Floch, the training’s coordinating nurse.
Each three-hour session is typically led by a team of a nurse and a physician, all volunteers from the CPOA. The first part of the training focuses on practical tools and techniques officers can use in their daily interactions with individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. The program covers the basics of psychiatric disorders – prevalence rates, common symptoms, and diagnostic criteria – and challenges common misconceptions.
“We then question preconceived ideas before providing theoretical tools to help officers better manage difficult situations,” the psychiatrists explained, including de-escalation techniques and guidance on connecting individuals with mental health services. The training incorporates role-playing exercises and real-life scenarios to enhance learning.
Floch recalled one scenario involving a police officer responding to a highly agitated woman in a Paris train station who was unable to communicate verbally. “The officers felt very helpless,” he said. Trainers revisit similar situations with officers, exploring alternative approaches and highlighting successful interventions.
“We wanted a very interactive training,” Duquesne added. “We try to move away as much as possible from the short, lecture-based format, which would be less effective.” Officers are trained in non-verbal communication techniques – maintaining a calm demeanor, avoiding sudden movements, speaking slowly, and actively listening – to help de-escalate tense situations.
Expanding the Program’s Reach
Program leaders are now exploring options to expand the training to other regions of France and to increase the duration of the sessions. Officers have requested longer training sessions, ideally six hours, to allow for more in-depth exploration of the topics and more time for role-playing exercises.
“This would allow us to explore the subjects in greater depth and spend more time on role-playing, which is very useful for learning. We realize that officers need to practice,” Floch noted.
Initial evaluations of the program have been positive, with data suggesting a reduction in the use of force and improved knowledge among officers who have completed the training. “One month after the training, we see an effectiveness on the use of force and the improvement of knowledge,” the psychiatrists said. The team hopes to extend the training to other first responder groups, including the gendarmerie, correctional services, and firefighters, and potentially integrate it into the curriculum at police academies.
