13 May 2022

#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek: Mental Health must be taken seriously as referrals triple over the past year

“In Dorset, Mental Health referrals have effectively tripled form the same period last year… this is an issue which transcends all ranks and must be taken seriously”

To mark #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek, Dorset Police Federation Chair James Dimmack blogs on the challenges facing Police Officers.

James says: “The state of Police officers mental wellbeing is of vital importance… in an age when we are being tasked to do more with less it can be of no surprise that more and more colleagues are suffering poor mental health.

“In Dorset, Mental Health referrals have effectively tripled form the same period last year. This is an issue which transcends all ranks and must be taken seriously.  Dorset Police has started to introduce Mental Health for Managers training for all supervisors. This is a good start to help mangers identify the initial signs and symptoms of poor mental health.

“I would like to see this progressed further with Mental health monitoring akin to the fitness test be undertaken each year to ensure all officers are fit to be at work. Mental and physical health are always considered separately.

“In truth they are synonymous with each other and both can be hugely debilitating. As a Federation we support Oscar Kilo and aim to provide wellbeing support for officers.

“If you are struggling please talk to someone. If you can’t face this within your peer group there are numerous agencies who are out there to help. These can be found on both the Force and Federation websites.

“Please don’t bottle things up you will be surprised how many of your colleagues are struggling in the same ways as you.”