Celebrity fitness coach and mental health advocate Joe Wicks MBE has created a video, especially for Staffordshire Police and Fire Service this Mental Health Awareness Week.
National superstar Joe, who is best known as ‘The Body Coach’, has recorded the exclusive video as part of this year’s campaign, which kicked off yesterday (Monday 15 May).
In the video, Joe shares his top tips for better mental health.
“If your physical health and your mental health isn’t in good shape, it’s going to be really hard to help others,” says Joe, who created the video after the Force’s wellbeing nurse Becky Lewis reached out to him on social media.
He said: “I know how hard you work and the pressure you are under. The shift pattern, it’s really hard to stay active, to have a good routine with your sleep, and to have the time and energy to put good food into your body.
“This is a video to send some love and support.”
Joe continues to deliver his top three tips for looking after your mental health:
- Exercise and keeping active, even if this means getting out and going for a ‘mood-boosting’ walk
- Prioritise a healthy diet by batch cooking and go back to basics, so you can grab a bite while on the go
- Investing in sleep, so if you can get to bed an hour earlier then do it.
“They are the three simple things that humans need. It’s sleep, it’s good food and movement. It can feel overwhelming sometimes to get everything right so just focus on one daily win, whether it’s a movement, putting one healthy thing in your body or getting to bed that one hour earlier,” he continued.
Becky, who contacted Joe via Instagram, said Mental Health Awareness Week is an opportunity to shine a light on wellbeing, as she encourages members to reach out, speak out and check up on colleagues.
“We are always trying to raise awareness of mental health as much as possible,” said Becky.
“It would be unrealistic to think we could go out and work with everyone individually, so what we’re trying to do is empower others to do what they can to maintain better wellbeing.
“It’s all about having those conversations and spotting any early signs that either yourself or a colleague is struggling, so we can prevent it from getting any worse.”
Becky said that it is more important than ever for police officers and staff to be aware of mental health and know where they can turn if they need support.
She added: “Police officers are under immense pressure and strain, trying to balance work, life and their families. And with suicide rates rising within the police, especially in men, it’s more important than ever for us to be talking about mental health.”
To kick off Mental Health Awareness Week, Fed members were invited to ‘wear it green’ yesterday (Monday 15 May), with operational staff encouraged to pull on a pair of green socks or a green ribbon, the international symbol for mental health.
Tomorrow (Wednesday 17) a live yoga session is also being streamed for the Force. To request a link to the video, which can be viewed remotely, please email Becky at Rebecca.lewis@staffordshire.police.uk
