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Dr. Carolina Campodonico, Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), recently delivered a psychosis training programme to Lancashire Constabulary’s Street Triage Team. Here, Dr. Campodonico outlines the impact the programme has had.
Twenty-five members of Lancashire Constabulary’s Street Triage Team recently completed a specialised psychosis training course, further enhancing their ability to respond to individuals experiencing mental health crises.
The UPSKILL training—developed by Dr. Campodonico—was designed to refine the team’s expertise, with a focus on real-world scenarios police officers frequently encounter when working with vulnerable individuals. The training was facilitated by Lancashire Constabulary’s Mental Health Lead, Andrew McGinty.
The importance of psychosis training for police
Each year, police in England and Wales respond to around 250,000 mental health-related incidents (HMICFRS, 2018), even though many of these cases fall outside their official remit. The introduction of the “Right Care, Right Person” framework in 2022 (DHSC & HO, 2024) aimed to reduce police involvement in mental health crises by ensuring proper referrals, but officers still encounter mental health emergencies on a daily basis. Often, they are expected to take the lead in these situations, even when other services should be involved.
Understanding psychosis is critical for ensuring safe and effective interventions, as symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, and disorganised thinking can make communication difficult and interactions unpredictable. Without the right training, police officers might misinterpret these symptoms as aggression or non-compliance, ultimately resulting in misunderstandings, escalation, and unnecessary use of force, which can worsen mental health symptoms for the individual involved (Hirschtick et al., 2020). These encounters can also lead to post-traumatic stress disorder, burnout, and anxiety among officers (Marsden et al., 2020).
Street Triage Teams, such as Lancashire’s, play a crucial role in bridging the gap between law enforcement and mental health services. They respond to emergencies involving people in crisis, working alongside healthcare professionals to ensure that individuals receive the appropriate care. Continuous professional development in mental health, including psychosis, is vital to their success.
Training developed by experts, grounded in real experience
The UPSKILL training was created using a comprehensive, evidence-based approach. Dr. Campodonico designed the programme with input from police officers, clinicians, and individuals with lived experience of psychosis to ensured the training was practical, grounded in real-world challenges, and directly applicable to the work officers do. What sets this training apart is its focus on real-life scenarios, making it highly relevant and immediately useful.
The feedback from the 25 participants confirmed that the training was both relevant and specifically tailored to the police profession. Although the attendees already had a good understanding of psychosis, they reported significant knowledge gains, particularly in understanding the causes of psychosis and developing the skills needed to manage situations involving individuals experiencing hallucinations or paranoia, such as when someone becomes suspicious of a particular officer. One participant remarked, “The role-playing exercises and practical examples really made me think about how hearing voices can affect a person’s behaviour.”
The training covered essential areas such as recognising early signs of psychosis, effective communication strategies, and de-escalation techniques. Role-playing exercises allowed officers to practise applying their new skills in a safe, controlled environment. Beyond the technical skills, the training also emphasised empathy, encouraging officers to consider the lived experiences of those with psychosis. This fostered a more understanding and compassionate approach to crisis intervention. One participant commented, “Understanding psychosis better will help me be more patient and understanding in future interactions.”
Why UPSKILL matters for emergency services
The need for mental health training in emergency services has never been more pressing. As mental health services become increasingly stretched, police officers, firefighters, and paramedics often act as the first responders in mental health emergencies. Ensuring that these professionals are equipped with the right skills and knowledge not only benefits those in crisis but also improves the safety and effectiveness of the emergency services themselves.
Lancashire Constabulary’s commitment to ongoing professional development demonstrates their dedication to improving outcomes for individuals with mental health conditions. With the successful completion of the UPSKILL training, the Street Triage Team is now even better prepared to handle psychosis-related incidents, offering timely and appropriate interventions that can make a significant difference in the lives of vulnerable people.
Looking forward
Dr. Campodonico will continue delivering UPSKILL and is developing new training programmes that cater to the evolving needs of police officers and other emergency workers. There are plans to expand the training to include advanced mental health modules, such as dealing with Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD).
For any enquiries about the training, please contact Dr. Campodonico at ccampodonico@uclan.ac.uk.
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