Federation campaign puts officers’ mental health to the fore

6 February 2020

A new national Federation campaign putting an emphasis on the need to prioritise officers’ mental health has been launched to coincide with today’s Time To Talk Day.

The campaign is being called Hear ‘Man Up’, Think ‘Man Down’, and is being supported by Hertfordshire Police Federation which has been calling on the Force to do more to support officer wellbeing.

“Since myself and Al Wollaston came into our full-time Federation roles around 18 months ago, we have been doing all we can to ensure that officers’ wellbeing is at the heart of all that we do,” says Geoff Bardell, Hertfordshire Police Federation chair.

“We know that wellbeing is being talked about more but what we really need to see is signs of action, signs that more is being done to make sure that officers get the help they need should they start to feel their mental health is suffering.

“This campaign is aimed at encouraging officers to speak up about their own mental health but also at encouraging them to look for signs that colleagues might be struggling with their mental health. It is vital that we all act on any signs we pick up that could point to someone suffering mental ill-health. We must talk to one another, listen and urge people to access the wide range of support that is available through various organisations, including the Federation.

“Police officers have protective clothing and equipment. They also receive training to help them protect themselves from physical injuries. But their psychological wellbeing is often overlooked and, due to the nature of policing and the often traumatic incidents we deal with, that needs to change.”

In addition to encouraging officers to talk, the campaign will aim to raise awareness of what signs to look out for and where officers can get help if they need it.

Belinda Goodwin, the Federation’s national wellbeing lead, said: “It’s about joining up the wealth of Federation support available locally and nationally.”

The campaign follows a study by the Federation’s research and policy support department which revealed the extent to which officers are struggling with their mental wellbeing.

To date it has been difficult to determine the actual number of police officers who take their own lives. Police forces have not routinely collected this data and, although the Office for National Statistics (ONS) collects data based on coroners’ verdicts, the figures often exclude either non-residents and/or PCSOs. It is also unclear whether retired or former police officers are routinely included in the figures.

Official ONS figures show that 66 police officers took their own lives between 2015-17.

Although significant improvements in mental health support have been made in recent years, the Federation continues to press the Government and forces to provide earlier, better and more consistent support.

As well as concentrating on mental health, the campaign will focus on physical and financial wellbeing.

The Federation has linked up with Police Mutual to highlight financial issues in a monthly newsletter called Let’s Talk Money. The newsletter will concentrate on a different issue each month for a year.

Officers are being encouraged to support the campaign and to help promote the message that it’s OK to talk. Join in the campaign on social media using the hashtags #ManUpManDown and #PoliceWelfare.

Find out more.