Support on hand

9 April 2020

The Federation’s national wellbeing lead has urged members not to suffer in silence as they respond to more and more deaths during the coronavirus crisis.

Belinda Goodwin warned of the mental impact on officers during what she described as ‘one of the most challenging periods for both the Federation and for the police service’.

“For some, it may be easy to forget that behind the uniform they are mums, dads, sons and daughters who are facing the same issues as people within their communities; whether that being caring for vulnerable relatives or sadly being off ill themselves,” Belinda wrote in a blog post.

“A combination of juggling family life and paying the bills while working long, often 12-hour shifts, is a perfect storm for officers to feel overwhelmed, mentally and physically torn.”

She added: “As more people tragically pass away from this virus, officers are also having to respond to more deaths. We are concerned about the long-lasting impact this will have on their mental wellbeing over the coming months as they are repeatedly exposed to these traumatic scenes.”

Hertfordshire Police Federation secretary Al Wollaston said the Federation was doing everything it could to support officers during the coronavirus crisis.

Al explained: “We’re working closely with the Force to do everything we can to look after our members’ welfare during these unprecedented times. Help is available for members, and we would encourage anyone who finds themselves suffering mentally or financially to come forward and access that support.

“And we would also urge officers to look out for each other during this challenging time. Behind every uniform is a person with their own worries, and a word of support from a colleague can make all the difference.”

Read Belinda’s blog.