The green epaulettes you may see popping up on the uniforms of some Toronto Police officers signifies a show of support by the force for mental health programs and initiatives.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and the force has partnered with Toronto Beyond the Blue charity to wear the green epaulettes to support each other during these trying times.

The charity works to strengthen and support the members of Toronto Police and their families.

‘We are proudly wearing green to show that we are advocates and that we are a safe person for mental health conversations,” according to a police Twitter feed.

The self-isolation from COVID-19 “has surfaced many feelings for some, and compounded those feeling for others,” police say. “Support and understanding mean so much to someone who is experiencing mental health issues.”

You are asked by police to raise awareness and show commitment to normalizing conversations around mental health.

The goal of Mental Health Awareness Month is to fight stigma, provide support, educate the public, and advocate for policies that support people with mental illness and their families. It also aims to draw attention to suicide, which can be precipitated by some mental illnesses.

Information can be found on Twitter at hashtag#tbtb, hashag#mentalhealthmatters, hahtag#mentalhealthawareness or hashtag#torontopolice.