Police in Calderdale dealing with "deeply concerning" number of mental health related call-outs every year

A Freedom of Information request by the Courier has revealed that 8,077 mental health related incidents were reported to police in Calderdale between 2021 and 2025, and attended 2,966 of them.

In 2021, 1,698 mental health related incidents were reported to police in Calderdale, of which 674 were attended.

In 2022, 1,586 mental health related incidents were reported, of which 597 were attended.

There were 1,444 mental health related incidents reported in 2023, of which 490 were attended, while 1,751 mental health related incidents were reported in 2024, of which 659 were attended.

Last year, 1,598 mental health related incidents were reported to police in Calderdale, of which 546 were attended.

Mel Stead, chief executive of Calderdale charity Unmasked Mental Health, said: "Sadly these figures do not surprise me, although they are still deeply concerning.

"To see West Yorkshire Police responding to around 1,500 to 1,700 mental health-related incidents every year in Calderdale alone paints a very clear picture of the level of emotional distress and mental health need that exists within our communities.

"What these statistics really show is that many people are reaching crisis point before they are able to access meaningful support. In many cases, the police are being asked to respond to situations that are fundamentally health and social care issues rather than criminal matters.

"Police officers do an incredible job in extremely difficult circumstances, but they should not be the default frontline response for people experiencing mental health crises simply because other services are overwhelmed, inaccessible or unavailable at the point people need help.

"At Unmasked Mental Health, we see every day just how significant demand has become across Calderdale. We support people experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, isolation, suicidal thoughts and long-term emotional distress, and many individuals tell us they struggled to access help early enough or did not know where to turn before reaching crisis point.

"The reality is that demand for mental health support has grown significantly in recent years, driven by factors including the cost-of-living crisis, social isolation, trauma, financial pressure, relationship breakdowns and long NHS waiting lists for support.

"What is needed now is greater investment in early intervention, community-based support and accessible counselling services before people reach crisis point. We need services that people can access quickly, locally and without stigma. We also need stronger partnership working between health services, local authorities, charities and community organisations so that people receive the right support at the right time.

"Community mental health charities play a vital role in supporting people long before they reach crisis point, yet local funding available to sustain these services often remains extremely limited and short-term.

"Organisations like ours are frequently expected to fill growing gaps in mental health provision, despite operating with far fewer resources than statutory services. The reality is that many community charities are delivering highly impactful frontline support, helping people earlier, more flexibly and in less clinical environments, while continually battling uncertainty around funding and sustainability.

"If we genuinely want to reduce pressure on emergency services and prevent more people reaching crisis point, there must be far greater long-term investment into grassroots mental health organisations embedded within local communities.

"Ultimately, these figures should be seen as a wake-up call. Mental health support cannot simply exist at crisis level. If we want to reduce pressure on emergency services and improve outcomes for local people, we must invest far more in prevention, early support and long-term community wellbeing."

Jonny Richardson Glenn, chief officer at the Healthy Minds charity in Calderdale, says the figures show there is continued need for mental health support in Calderdale.

"Part of the problem is that people cannot always find the support they need when they need it," he said.

"As there are many demands on the Police, they have necessarily questioned whether they are the right service to respond to people in mental health crisis. The way ahead is to strengthen relationships and knowledge across the whole crisis support system to spread the load and so that people can get the most appropriate support.

"We have been working more closely with WY Police in Calderdale over the past year, in particular on our Safespace crisis support service, which offers immediate support every day and into the evening, to try to ease some pressures on mental health call-outs. We've held a series of briefings with local officers so that they know about Safespace, and can direct, or bring, people to us for emotional support so that they are freed up for other matters.

"The other part of the equation is better public awareness of the support that is available, including the likes of Healthy Minds and other organisations, so that people know who to contact in times of need rather than calling emergency services in the first instance.

"The main message is that support is available. People should, of course, still contact emergency services if there is immediate risk, and the Police have an important role in keeping people safe, but there are other options that could give people more suitable support."

If you are in need of mental health support:

NHS 111 now offer crisis mental health support. People of all ages, including children, who are in crisis or concerned family and loved ones can now call 111, select the mental health option and speak to a trained mental health professional.

24/7 open access to local mental health services: 01924 316830

The Samaritans offer emotional support 24 hours a day – in full confidence: Call: 116 123 for free.

SANEline is an out-of-hours telephone helpline service offering practical information, crisis care and emotional support to anybody affected by mental health problems. Available between 4.30pm – 10.30pm each evening, every day of the year: 0300 304 7000