World Suicide Prevention Day - join the conversation

6 September 2024

Hertfordshire Police Federation is encouraging members to use an upcoming awareness day as a chance to check in on their own mental health.

The Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) is hosting a free webinar this World Suicide Prevention Day on 10 September (10.30am to midday).

Titled Breaking the Silence: Conversations about mental health and suicide, it is part of PFEW’s #AskTwice campaign, which encourages open conversations about mental health and fosters support within policing.

New Government figures showed there were 6,069 suicides in England and Wales in 2023, up from 5,642 in 2022. It’s the highest rate since 1999.

Branch chair Luke Mitchell said: “We want to encourage and empower people to talk about their mental health – just one conversation could save a person’s life.

Support

“We can all make a difference by encouraging conversations and supporting each other, and this free PFEW webinar will help with starting those conversations.

“It’s also a chance for us to check in on our mental health.

“As police officers we have a unique role in society and can be exposed to traumatic events.

“Unlike our physical health, you can’t see a mental health issue, which is why we need to take time for ourselves and for each other to identify the early signs of mental ill-health.”

The webinar will include personal stories from a branch secretary and equality lead about his struggles with mental health and how he has supported Federation members.

A rep will share her experience and valuable insight into antenatal depression.

And Dr Jess Miller, principal investigator at Cambridge University’s Department of Sociology, will explore the thinking that can lead to suicidal thoughts, and provide strategies for teams to cultivate a supportive environment that addresses and counteracts these harmful patterns.