Hear ‘Man Up’, Think ‘Man Down’

Between 2015 and 2017 more than 20 police officers took their own life each year. That’s almost two a month. Something needs to change. 

Research has shown that emergency services workers are twice as likely than the public to identify problems at work as the main cause of their mental health problems, but they are also significantly less likely to seek help.

We need, once and for all, to put the idea that talking about emotional or mental health is a sign of weakness behind us. Police officers are dying because they aren’t asking for or getting help. They don’t need to “Man Up” they need to speak out. 

With a quarter of emergency service workers admitting to thinking about taking their own lives, this campaign encourages officers to take each others mental wellbeing as seriously as they take each others physical safety, and and questions whether we are too dismissive of colleague who may be showing signs of mental health issues - something that has potentially fatal consequences. When you hear Hear ‘Man Up’, Think ‘Man Down’ offer help.

Federation wellbeing secretary Belinda Goodwin explains what prompted the campaign.    

The Samaritans have produced a guide - in English and Welsh - to help you have conversations about mental health.

Here are some other organisations who may be able to help.