WMHD: officers urged to prioritise their mental health

9 October 2026

Police officers should treat their mental health as essential to staying well in a demanding job, says Suffolk Federation chair Darren Harris, urging colleagues to use World Mental Health Day to check in with themselves and others.

The unique pressures of policing mean officers can be exposed repeatedly to traumatic, distressing and emotionally difficult situations, often with little time to process what they have experienced.

Darren, who has experienced those pressures himself, said it was important officers did not assume that simply getting on with the job meant they were unaffected.

“Policing can be an incredibly rewarding career, but it is also incredibly demanding,” he said.

 

Suffolk Federation chair Darren Harris

 

“You can deal with a deeply traumatic or emotional incident, and then you are expected to carry on with your shift and deal with the next call.

“Sometimes you don’t have the time to process what you have just seen or dealt with. You just carry on because there is another job to do.

“But those experiences can stay with you, and over time they can have an impact.”

Darren said the job's pressures could also be compounded by what officers were dealing with outside work, including family issues, health concerns, and financial pressures.

“It can all add up and take a toll,” he said.

World Mental Health Day

“That’s why World Mental Health Day is a good opportunity to remind officers that looking after your mental health is not something you should only think about when things get really bad.

“It is about recognising the impact the job can have and doing something about it.”

For Darren, that means recognising the warning signs and making time to properly switch off from policing.

“We all have mental health in the same way we all have physical health,” he said.

“The challenge is recognising when yours is being affected and doing something about it.

Switching off

“Switching off can be difficult when you work in policing, but finding time to decompress, spend time with family and friends, exercise or simply do something you enjoy is important.

“It is easy to put those things at the bottom of the list when work is busy, but they are important.”

Darren also wants officers to use World Mental Health Day, which falls on Saturday (10 October) as a reminder to look out for colleagues.

“Ask them how they are, and if you’re not convinced by the answer, ask again,” he said.

“You don’t have to fix someone’s problems, and you don’t need to have the perfect words.

Crisis point

“Sometimes, just being there and listening without judgement can be all that it takes for someone.”

He said officers should not wait until they reach a crisis point before seeking help.

“Don’t bottle it up,” Darren said.

“It’s important not to wait until things reach a crisis point.

“Talk to someone you trust, whether that’s a colleague, friend, family member or one of the professional support services available to you.

Huge difference

“Speaking to someone at an early stage, accessing support, or even just acknowledging how you’re feeling can make a huge difference.”

Support available to members includes:

• Oscar Kilo Mental Health Crisis Line (24/7), designed specifically for serving and former police officers, staff and volunteers: 0300 131 2789
• Samaritans (24/7): 116 123
• National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK (available 6pm to midnight every day): 0800 689 5652

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