SUPPORT BY YOUR SIDE
Mental health is a topic close to many of our hearts. The Police Federation is very proud to be supporting the Daily Express and Mind’s Christmas mental health campaign, “By Your Side”.
The campaign aims to raise a significant sum of money, so that Britain’s leading mental health charity can continue to provide a network of life-saving support. The initiative is designed to remind people they are not alone, and that mental health does not discriminate. It doesn’t matter who you are, your age or what job you do, it can take its toll. The campaign also aims to generate a wider discussion around the support available to anyone who may need it. Throughout the Christmas period, several police officers from across the country will be joining many others in sharing bravely sharing their experiences of mental health struggles, in the hope that it will raise awareness and raise money for Mind. You will be able to read these courageous stories on the Daily Express website and on the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) social media channels Police officers deal with trauma,
“It’s important for ofcers
to feel comfortable about speaking out about the difculties they are facing with mental health and wellbeing.”
danger, and grief day in, day out. They see the very worst of humanity – but are expected to leave it behind at the end of a shift, then return to “normal” life. The added pressures of policing the pandemic have had a major effect on officers. There is still a stigma attached
to mental illness in policing – but this must change and PFEW is committed to doing all it can to help this change become a reality. Nobody should feel like they must hide away when there’s an issue or bottle things up until they are broken. It’s important for officers to feel comfortable about speaking out about the difficulties they are facing with mental health and wellbeing. Policing is unique – helping people
and saving lives is rewarding and makes a difference but it’s often tough beyond measure. The number of police officers experiencing mental health and wellbeing issues is growing, with our latest Demand, Capacity and Welfare Survey showing that 69 per cent of the 12,471 respondents had experienced difficulties with their mental health and wellbeing over the last 12 months. The most frequently reported reason
for experiencing difficulties with work- related mental health and wellbeing was
a heavy workload, followed by having a poor work-life balance. A total of 20 per cent noted the reason for the struggles was due to the general impact of working on the frontline during the pandemic. It may be easy to forget that behind the uniform, these people are mums and dads, sons and daughters, brothers, and sisters. They are people who are facing the same issues as those within the communities that they police. Last year 20 million people
– roughly one third of the UK population
– approached Mind for support, the highest level
since the charity was founded in
1946. Each month, its Infoline receives 8,000 calls, equal to 258 each day or 11 every hour.
Mind’s Blue Light Programme has
recently provided a tailor-made toolkit for police officers and other emergency service workers to support them with their mental health during the pandemic. The Federation is proud to support
this very important campaign. For more, personal stories and details of how to donate, please visit the Daily Express website and head to the Christmas Campaign page.
24 I POLICE I DECEMBER 2021
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