‘Don’t suffer in silence’: sergeant opens up about mental health

9 October 2024

A West Midlands Police Federation rep is encouraging members to seek support if they are experiencing mental health issues.

Sergeant Mick Woods has spoken of his own challenges to mark this year’s World Mental Health Day (Thursday 10 October) as he urges officers not to suffer in silence.

And he said that as a Fed rep, he is talking to more officers about their mental health.

Mick said: “The nature of the job we deal with is very stressful and impactive.

“Incidents stack up and you worry how it’s going to manifest itself.

“Is it going to affect my mental health, my personal life, my family, my relationships?

“If you’re worried about your mental health, help is there. Don’t suffer in silence.

“It’s very easy to wake up not feeling great, go to work and have a really busy day, come home, go to bed and the next morning it’s the same thing.

Support

“The important thing is to keep it at the forefront of people’s minds that support is there and where to access it.”

After experiencing his mental health challenges, Mick accessed support through NHS services. Support can also be found through the Force’s Be Well Service and occupational health, and through a GP and NHS services, and the Federation branch can help point members in the right direction.

“I went through a difficult nine months at work which impacted my mental health and personal life,” said Mick. “It caused me a lot of anxiety.

“I lost a lot of confidence. It made me question a lot about myself, my own values, who I was as a person, which is difficult to go through.

“Accessing NHS services has made such a difference for me, I can’t recommend them enough.”

Mick, who was recently been diagnosed with dyslexia, added: “Just because you have anxiety, depression, or a learning difference, it doesn’t make you a worse officer.”

First aider

Mick is now trained as a mental health first aider to support others.

He said: “I did a voluntary course because I was dealing with people in a Federation capacity who are experiencing issues with their mental health, because they’re stressed at work, they’re anxious, they’re being burnt out. It allows me to provide that support.”

The theme for this year’s World Mental Health Day is workplace mental health.

The Police Federation of England and Wales launched its #AskTwice campaign earlier this year which aims to encourage a positive and supportive culture in policing.

The campaign commits to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where people feel valued, heard, and empowered to seek help when needed.