Men’s Health Forum: a safe space to open up

13 January 2025

Emotional and wellbeing issues can impact anyone, says Detective Inspector Dan Phillips, as he highlights the work of the Force's Men's Health Forum.

He believes the forum provides a support network for men and a space for them to discuss their worries and concerns.

Dan explains: “The Men’s Health Forum has been set up to create a space where we can talk things through.

“We’re trying to end the mentality that men don’t feel emotion and don’t talk about things. The feeling that you have to crack on with it yourself. We’ve looked at topics such as money, physical health, new parenting.

“It’s been really quite positive. We’ve had a good uptake. Having a peer group to talk to is often really helpful in changing attitudes.”

Detective Inspector Dan Phillips.

Dan is highlighting the forum, which meets in person and online every two months and gives officers a chance to talk about physical and mental health issues, for Men’s Health Awareness Month.

Dan opened up about his own issues, and said having a space to talk helped his emotions and wellbeing.

He said: “I’ve had a bit of a bad time over the past three years. I had issues in my personal and family life. I had my own health issues.

“I was working myself into the ground doing 50 to 60-hour weeks. And it came to a head. I’m ex-forces and have always been really robust and cracked on with stuff.

'I need help'

“I got to a point where I found myself spiralling and thought ‘I need some help here’. I needed to chat to someone. I tackle things head on but it was nice to talk other people and realise you’re not on your own.

“The things you go through are the things that pretty much everybody goes through.

Everybody has money worries at times, worries about work, worries about decisions they’ve made, worries about health and relationships and family members.

“One of my staff members was a new dad. Nobody teaches you how to be a dad. No one teaches you how to look after and bring up kids. We’re all experiencing similar things, but you don’t really talk about it.

“So it was really nice to get a few things off the chest and chat to like-minded people.”

He added: “I’ve got a lot better but three or four years ago I just didn’t talk about my emotions. I just used to deal with them, or think I was dealing with them, but it would sometimes make me angry internally.

Pressure valve

"Now I find if I chat with someone, it lifts and I can get back on with my life. I think that is still a real barrier for men. It’s like a pressure valve. You let a bit of steam out and off you go.”

Dan, who has been a police officer for 18 years, said that the feedback from people has been very positive.

He said: “Does it help? I think so. I wouldn’t have supported the group if I thought it was a waste of time. It helped me, and I can only comment on my own experience.

“The reaction from people when we’ve done these meetings has been really positive. We’re not going through the motions, we’re really trying to help people.”

Derbyshire Police Federation members can find out about the bi-monthly Men’s Health Forums and sign up to them on the Force intranet.

READ MORE: Fed elections: Find out more about becoming a rep.