MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS
Mental Health Awareness Week this year focuses on anxiety and its debilitating impact on officers. Here, one DI explains how enrolling at Flint House Rehabilitation saved him. By Anesu Mlauzi
to International Counter Terrorism Policing in the King’s New Year Honours. He is also the author of “One mountain, two minds” – a true story of his personal journey. Earlier this year
he attended Flint House’s five- day residential programme for mental health
This year, Mental Health Awareness Week takes place between 15-21 May and the theme is ‘anxiety’ to help increase awareness and understanding of anxiety and think about things we can do to help us feel calmer and happier. Mental Health Awareness Week helps us remember mental health is an important topic and there is always support for those who are struggling in any way.
Being a police officer is a job like no other. Officers see and experience situations with lasting effects and are constantly under pressure, and it is natural to feel anxious. According to Mental Health at Work, anxiety is a word we use to describe feelings of unease, worry and fear. It incorporates both the emotions and the physical sensations we might experience when we are worried or nervous about something. A senior Counter Terrorism officer at the Metropolitan Police Service has spoken about the pressures of his role and how Flint House Rehabilitation’s mental health programme has helped him. Detective Inspector Jonathan Mearns received an OBE for Services
support. But it’s not Jonathan’s first stay at Flint House; 10 years ago, he received physiotherapy for an injury.
“Officers see and experience situations with lasting effects and are constantly under pressure, and it is natural to feel anxious”
He said: “It’s been a great experience for a number of reasons. The entire environment feels like you’ve got time away from everything and can just focus on yourself, which you don’t always get time to do. That was my experience 10 years ago as well – the food was always great too! “Everyone is extremely friendly here, it’s
a very welcoming place and there’s lots of space. The staff running the mental health programme are totally non-judgemental as well as being really open to sharing ideas. “You’re in a group and it feels like a
trusted space where, even though they’re strangers on the first morning, you’re able to share the difficult challenges you’ve faced. We’re all coming from a similar place but have our own challenges, and we’re all trying to get somewhere. I think that’s something quite powerful.” Jonathan said that other police officers
who need some time to focus on their mental health would do well to consider seeking help. He said: “Organisations have now got wellbeing as part of their strategy and that’s good. But we as individuals need to look after our own mental and physical health too, and you wouldn’t go far wrong checking in to Flint House. “I’m happy to be really open about a lot of the things I’ve been through in my policing career. I have to live my life, do the best for my family and me, and to do that I need a bit of self-care.” Jonathan started paying into Flint House when he joined the police 30 years ago. He said: “I was told it would be beneficial even though I wasn’t sure how and if I might not have to use it but if I did it would be worth my entire service contributions. “The money comes out of your
salary and you don’t really notice it – it’s the equivalent of a few coffees a month and acts just like an insurance policy. “Flint House is such a good
resource that many other businesses will never have. The location is amazing. It’s very relaxing, away from the hustle and bustle of emails, demands, and normal life. Whatever the reason you’re there, it’s an opportunity to have a break. Take it!” It is ok to seek help when experiencing
• Talk to someone you trust • Try complementary therapies • Exercise • Try a breathing exercise • Talk to your GP
any form of anxiety or stress, even when you are unsure if you are experiencing a specific mental health problem. Mental Health at Work advise that when you are feeling anxious, you should:
For more information on anxiety, please visit
www.mentalhealthatwork.org.uk and
www.flinthouse.co.uk
09 | POLICE | APRIL 2023
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