The country’s leading mental health charity has produced an online toolkit to help support police officers and other emergency workers during the pandemic.
Created by Mind under its Blue Light Programme, the toolkit is designed to provide those working for the police, ambulance and fire service with mental health advice and information throughout the coronavirus crisis and beyond.
The year-long support offered through the toolkit comes after results from a recent survey led by Mind revealed that 66 per cent of people working in the police service felt their mental health has deteriorated as a result of the pandemic.
Besides the new demands of the job, two thirds said they were concerned about passing coronavirus on to their friends and family, and 42 per cent said their mental health was affected by news and media coverage.
Staffordshire Police Federation chair and wellbeing lead Phil Jones said: “It’s concerning to hear that so many officers are struggling with their mental health but sadly it does not come as any great surprise, considering the challenging year we’ve had.
“I’m pleased to hear that Mind is working with the emergency services to provide resources for anyone who may be concerned about their own mental health or that of their family, friends or colleagues. No one should feel they have to suffer in silence and there are a number of organisations, including the Federation, that can help.”
The new toolkit will help police officers manage their mental health, take care of themselves and also encourage them to reach out to family, friends and colleagues who might be struggling.
It will run from one year up until February 2022 and will build on Mind’s existing support for emergency service workers. The toolkit will evolve based on feedback from the police community, and Mind be adding new resources and sources of help when they become available throughout the year.
The toolkit and more information on the Blue Light Programme, along with advice and support, is now available on the Mind website.
