MENTAL HEALTH
STANDING BY YOUR SIDE
We are proudly supporting By Your Side, a mental health campaign by the Daily Express and Mind to remind people they are not alone and that mental health issues can affect anyone. Four brave officers share their stories
BARRY’S STORY In April 2020, Met Police Operational Firearms Commander Barry contracted Covid during a working trip to Scotland. The virus ended his operational career and changed his life significantly. “Physically I wasn’t at all well and mentally, I was in an absolute mess. I’ve been a police officer since 1992 and I’ve seen first-hand more trauma than I can count. Nothing had affected my mental health badly before, and I’d always considered myself to be mentally resilient and capable of dealing with whatever was thrown at me. Covid changed all of that. “I felt so low. I got to the stage where I believed my family would be better off without me. I felt like a burden and, though I didn’t realise at the time, I
was spiralling downwards badly. I didn’t understand it, as I’d never experienced anything like this. “Officers are great at telling people
to get help, but terrible at asking for it ourselves. I did need the help and I left it far later than I should have to seek it. Eventually, I was diagnosed with Long Covid, which has left me
with many medical problems. “Unfortunately, the damage to my body means that I can’t be operational again in service. I only have six months until I retire, which made that bitter pill a bit easier to swallow. I never wanted or saw my police career ending this way – as a long-in-service, experienced firearms officer, I felt Covid took my identity away. “Mentally I’m doing a lot better than I
was. This was helped by a 12-week course of counselling. I still have hard days, and I feel low at times, but the help I have been given helps me deal with that. “When you’re able, share your experiences. It helps create an open, healthy culture at work when there is no hesitance about discussing subjects like mental health. The most help I got was from speaking to colleagues who were dealing with Covid issues. In some of my darkest days last summer, just the act of sharing experiences – good and bad – was vital. I didn’t feel alone anymore. “We all need to work
to change the narrative around mental health, be more open and
understanding – and realise that asking for and getting help is a sign of strength.”
STEVEN’S STORY Detective Constable Steven of City of London Police contracted Covid in March 2020 and spent time in an induced coma during a two- month stay in hospital. He was left with a legacy of health issues and has retired. “I retired in 2019 after 30 years of
service. In January 2020, I re-joined City of London in the 20,000 officer uplift, but by March, I contracted Covid. I was in an induced coma for a few weeks. When coming out of the coma, I struggled with differentiating between what was real and what wasn’t. I had horrendous nightmares
10 | POLICE | FEBRUARY 2022
and for a month or so, I was in a bizarre waking dream. “Having been a police officer for more than 30 years, I coped with many horrendous situations and always found a way through. But Covid knocked me for six. My mental health struggles started in hospital. The nightmares, brain fog and memory problems caused by Covid – and the
multiple brain bleeds – left me feeling different to anything I had ever felt before. “Before Covid, I thought I was
untouchable. I had a good grasp on life, but this snuck up on me and changed everything. Officers are expected to suck it up and deal with things, but we can’t
always do that. Covid has affected so many people, police included. “But it is okay not to be okay. I know
it’s a cliché, but the more you open up about the struggles you are having, the easier it is to seek help. Mental health illnesses are no different to physical illnesses. I struggled with talking about this and dealing with my emotions for a long time, but seeing the psychologist for the past 18 months helped me come to terms with what happened and get a grip back on reality. “This has changed my life completely – and changed my outlook on life. You never know what is around the corner so live life to the full. Talk about how you are feeling. Bottling things up doesn’t help; talking is what will help.”
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