Cambridgeshire Police Federation chair Liz Groom has welcomed a tailor-made toolkit created to support police officers with their mental health during the pandemic.
National charity Mind has designed the toolkit as part of its Blue Light Programme to provide high-quality advice and information for the police and other emergency service workers.
Mind research has shown that two thirds of police staff believe their mental health had got worse – and in many cases, much worse – since the start of the pandemic.
In addition to the new demands of the job, two thirds of police 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. A third of emergency services staff said they didn’t look for help because they didn’t think their issues were serious enough.
“It’s been such a challenging 12 months for everyone, it comes as no surprise that officers are struggling with their mental health,” said Liz, “I’m pleased to hear that Mind is working with the emergency services to ensure the necessary support is available for those who need it.
“But members are also reminded that they can contact the Federation is they ever feel they need some extra support. Policing can be difficult and challenging during normal times, let alone when there is a pandemic.”
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.
The toolkit, which will build on Mind’s existing support for emergency service workers, will evolve based on feedback from the police community, and the charity will 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.