ArticleHealth & justice2026
Competencies required when police patrol officers encounter people in suicidal crisis: a Delphi study.
Article in Health & justice, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
introductionSuicide is a leading cause of death globally and represents a common, resource-intensive duty for police patrol officers (PPOs). Responding to suicidal crises is often traumatic, and PPOs rarely receive comprehensive training, leaving them inadequately prepared. Police authorities frequently assume operational responsibility in such situations, encompassing emotional, legal, tactical and safety considerations.
aimThis study aimed to explore and describe the competencies required of PPOs when encountering individuals in suicidal crisis.
methodAn exploratory, descriptive design was employed using a modified Delphi technique. Descriptions provided by PPOs of encounters with individuals in suicidal crisis were used to inform the development of items for a two-round questionnaire distributed to an expert panel. Experts were defined as individuals employed by the Swedish Police Authority or a university college, with additional training and/or teaching experience related to managing suicidal crises.
resultsOf the 50 experts invited, 43 completed both rounds, yielding a response rate of 86%. Consensus was achieved on 50 items, categorised into knowledge (n = 14), skills (n = 22) and attitudes (n = 14).
conclusionThe findings highlight the wide-ranging competencies required of PPOs, including policing-specific skills related to safety, interpersonal communication and psychiatric knowledge such as understanding mental disorders. Attitudinal competencies, such as demonstrating compassion and adopting a problem-solving approach, were also emphasised.
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