Struggling with your mental health?

10 May 2022

Suffolk Police Federation chair Darren Harris is encouraging officers who are struggling with their mental health to seek support.

Darren, speaking during Mental Health Awareness Week, said the Federation was there for members and can signpost them to help and support.

“There’s no other job like policing and officers can experience difficult situations, which is why it’s important that they take steps to look after their mental health,” he said.

“It’s also why our ‘Hear Man Up, Think Man Down’ campaign encourages officers to look out for each other as often we’re best placed to know when our colleagues are facing difficulties.

“And if you’re struggling with your mental health, it’s okay to reach out for help. Take that step. The Federation is here for you and the support you need is here for you.”

New figures from the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) highlight the pressures the cost of living crisis is putting on key workers, including police officers.

BACP’s Public Perceptions Survey found that almost half of key workers (48 per cent) are anxious or nervous about whether they can pay their bills. Nationally the figure is 40 per cent.

One in four (24 per cent) key workers are having to cut back on activities which help their mental health, such as gym membership, which is five per cent higher than the national average. And almost one in five (19 per cent) are losing sleep over the rising cost of living against 16 per cent nationally.

The pandemic has also taken its toll. According to the BACP, 74 per cent of key workers say it’s impacted their mental health to some extent. The figure for the rest of the population is 70 per cent.

Darren said: “Policing has talked a lot about supporting the mental health of our workforce, but the biggest thing they can do is to give our members a decent pay rise.

“We know from our pay and morale survey that officers are struggling with the rising cost of living and that it’s impacting their wellbeing, and these figures back that up.

“We’ve seen officers’ pay cut in real terms over the last 20 years and now the price of everyday essentials is rising and it’s all having an impact – and the Government can do something about it by rewarding officers for their hard work and sacrifice.”

Read the national Federation’s wellbeing lead’s Mental Health Awareness Week blog.