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#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek:
Please Ask For Help If You Are Struggling
May 2022
Officers mustn't be afraid to ask for help if they're struggling with mental health issues, the Civil Nuclear Police Federation has said as part of #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek 2022.
Civil Nuclear Police Federation Chief Executive Gary Thwaite said that the Federation had a number of resources to help officers who were struggling.
He said: "We can refer officers to the Police Treatment Centres or various charities such as MIND. We have invested in a number of mental health first aiders. The force is also serious about mental health and provides counselling and other support. The hardest step is to come forward and talk to someone, but please ask for help if you need it."
Mental Health Awareness Week aims to raise awareness, allow people to share their stories, and advocate for change. This year's theme is loneliness and the impact it can have on wellbeing.
Gary added that officers should look out for their colleagues if they're acting out of character. He said: "The Civil Nuclear Constabulary is quite a small organisation in the scheme of things, so we are closely knit, and peer support is strong. Peer-to-peer support is so important - looking out for your colleagues and being there if they need to talk to someone.
"Please look out for signs that your colleagues may be struggling and if you're concerned about someone, talk to them or ask them to get in touch with their Fed Rep."
He continued: "We deal with more and more cases of police officers struggling, and it is a good thing that more people are coming forward, and we've got to encourage that as a force and as a society. It's OK not to be OK.
"It's great that there's a Mental Health Awareness Week, but it's something that we've got to concentrate on all the time. Especially now, when there are such huge pressures on police officers.""We deal with more and more cases of police officers struggling, and it is a good thing that more people are coming forward, and we've got to encourage that as a force and as a society. It's OK not to be OK.
"It's great that there's a Mental Health Awareness Week, but it's something that we've got to concentrate on all the time. Especially now, when there are such huge pressures on police officers."