When it comes to mental health education, NSW police cadets are given a powerpoint presentation featuring cartoons of a cow and Garfield the cat, which barely mentions post-traumatic stress disorder.

"Police don't need to know how to draw a cow, they need to know what the first signs of PTSD are and that the culture of the police will accept, and support, them putting their hand up and asking for help," said NSW Greens police spokesman David Shoebridge.

The NSW Greens made a freedom of information application in May last year, seeking all documents and information relating to the training provided to officers and cadets at the NSW Police Force Academy on how to deal with PTSD.

After the application was rejected, Mr Shoebridge challenged the decision in the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

The NSW Police released the PowerPoint presentations more than six months later.

Mr Shoebridge said he was appalled to find the training for police recruits on PTSD and mental health issues in general was both "superficial and woefully inadequate".

"The materials themselves are embarrassingly undercooked - just two slideshows featuring childish tips like 'draw a cow' and 'never give up'," he said.

The NSW Police Force had resisted releasing the information, which has only one reference to PTSD.

"We had to drag the police to court to get these documents, and I can see why they didn't want to release them, they are embarrassingly inadequate," Mr Shoebridge said.

"Knowing the considerable impact that post-traumatic stress has on serving and former police, it is remarkable that the formal training given to NSW police is just one dot point in one PowerPoint slide.

"When you talk to injured police, you hear the stress of their work and the horrific things they see, it is clear that the NSW Police Force needs to do much more to prepare new recruits for the job."

Young recruits needed professional training with strong peer and organisational support right from day one, he said. That would mean a good deal more than a superficial PowerPoint presentation.

NSW Police Minister Troy Grant said he had been advised the slides were "visual aids that form only part of the preparation of new recruits to equip them to deal with these issues".

Senior police, including Commissioner Andrew Scipione, addressed students at the academy on emotional resilience, he said.

The NSW Police Force was improving mental health and resilience training, and the enhanced program would be delivered to new recruits in classes beginning in 2016.

"When I was a police officer I was badly injured in the line of duty, so I understand the challenges of a policing career and the mental health issues, including PTSD, that can be associated with it," Mr Grant said.

"We can never completely eliminate the risks of policing, but I support extra measures to reduce the risks through preparation and training, and to offer appropriate support for injured officers."