Queensland’s coroner says police must treat mental health as “core business” when training officers.

The coroner has called for officers to be better equipped to deal with mentally ill people in stressful situations.

It is one of 19 recommendations delivered following an inquest into five fatal police shootings, wherein the deceased had a history of known or suspected mental illness.

While officers were cleared of any wrongdoing, the coroner still called for reforms including targeted training for officers on dealing with people with mental health issues.

“Each of the men had a history of known or suspected mental illness, highlighting the need for the Queensland Police Service to treat mental health as 'core business',” state coroner Terry Ryan said.

He said the Queensland Police Service should have mental health clinicians available around-the-clock to help deal with people suffering mental issues.

The recommendations included a call for the Queensland Government to review its Mental Health Intervention Project, as well as a full rollout of body-worn cameras, so all officers have one.

Other recommendations included mandatory counselling for officers involved in critical incidents, new regulations for replica firearms, and possible additional firearms training for police.

Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers said dealing with mental health issues would require millions of dollars and potentially hundreds more staff.

“What [the coroner] did recognise was that mental health is a core business of police,” Mr Leavers said.

“I would have thought that is the health department but clearly police are actually picking up the slack of every other government department.

“Once it used to be fighting crime, now it is mental health.”