Emergency Services Pledge to Fight Mental Health Stigma
Ed is one of the policeman who has become a blue light champion (BBC)
A mental health initiative that was set up to help emergency service workers cope with the stress of their jobs, is set to progress following a successful first year.
The Blue Light Programme was set up by Mind, following findings from the charity that nearly 9 out of 10 (87%) emergency service workers have experienced some form of poor mental health whilst at work. This indicates that emergency service workers are way more at risk of developing mental health problems than the general public. On top of this they are less likely to ask for help, and take time off work due to stress.
The £4million programme reached it 1 year anniversary in April, and has received the funding to continue the scheme across the country. This is part of an ongoing commitment to supportemergency service workers that suffer with mental health issues, and tackle the stigma that surrounds it.
MIND center manger Val on why the programme was set up
‘Destroyed’
One of the ways the programme is tackling stigma, is by sharing the stories of people within the services who have previously suffered with mental health problems. Sergeant Ed Simpson is one of the police officers leading the forces charge on mental health in York. He suffered with post traumatic stress disorder and depression, after dealing with the parents of a 17 year old boy in a mortuary.
He said “The mothers screaming reaction destroyed me, completely and utterly destroyed, and I was just in tears with this family”
He had dealt with many traumatic incidents before, but this one completely changed him.
“It was a culmination of lots of incidents, but this was the straw that broke the camel’s back. I went from being a positive person and someone who could help anyone, to feeling absolutely helpless. Everything I had worked for had gone, I just thought I was weak and rubbish”
’Wished I was dead’
Things deteriorated for him really badly following the trauma reaction. The 40 year old said “The worst it got was I was getting up in the morning having not slept, driving to work and on the way there I was wishing I was dead”
“I’d rather have died on route to work, than get to work and work a shift”
Mental Health in the Services
- 27% of emergency service workers have considered taking their own life
- Emergency service workers twice as likely to develop a mental health issue than the general workforce
- BUT less likely to take time off work
- Police psychological sick leave up 35% since 2010
Stats courtesy of Mind.org.uk
Following a diagnosis of depression, Ed was signed off work and after a year he returned just as the Blue Light Programme was being initiated. He decided to help lead the forces mental health scheme, by signing up to become a blue light champion.
These are members of the forces that actively work with Mind to raise awareness of mental health issues within the workplace, by sharing their own experience, and being there to support their colleagues.
He said “When I was depressed I had no sense of worth, I felt myself disintegrating. I had no idea I was depressed. The Blue Light Programme came just at the right time for me. Speaking about my illness, and the fact people are influenced by what I have to say has given me a purpose again”
“The work that Mind are doing is absolutely brilliant, and I think they are helping to deal with the single biggest threat to this force”
Blue Light promotional video (Courtesy of mind.org.uk)
Long way to go
Mind were awarded LIBOR funding last year to get the project up and running, and provide mental health training for the blue light services. The charity are now looking to expand it further, and revolutionise the force’s attitudes towards mental health.
The Blue Light Programme looks set to be incorporated further into the services (MIND)
Paul Crofton who delivers the training for theprogramme said “We are breaking down the stigma that surrounds mental health in the services. We focus on raising awareness of mental health symptoms and, just generally having a conversation about mental health. The stigma is still massive, so by getting people to talk about it openly, hopefully they will realise that mental illness isn’t a sign of weakness”
“The reaction from all the services has been extremely positive, we’ve only just scraped the surface of the mental health issue and we will continue to take theprogramme much further over the next year”
‘About Time’
The stigma around mental health led to a climate of denial within the services, and has contributed to the rising rates of police, fire and ambulance service workers taking sick leave.
Barbara Cawley was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after working as a paramedic for many years
“I burst into tears even at the diagnosis, it made me feel like people would perceive I could no longer do my job. The perception is that you are not a whole person if you have this mental health issue, and you are ready for your padded cell”
“People would just pass by the issue of mental health, and even though you could tell people were not right, they would rather just bury their heads in the sand”
“The Blue Light Programme will be brilliant for helping raise the awareness of mental health, its about time something has been done because we could not continue the way we were going”
Barbara on why emergency service workers are susceptible to mental health issues
Save the Services
Ed Simpson believes the programme will save people from crashing to the depths he did, and decrease the number of officers taking sick leave.
“The programme has raised awareness and is tackling stigma, and I am aware of people in my force who have seen me talk and seen the blue light stuff and realised they are unwell, and have sought help. Which is great. Every cop i’ve spoke to has said its about time, because this is the biggest threat to the force there is.”
The programme will run four pilot schemes across the country, and bring all the services together in tackling the stigma of mental health and building up good practice over the next year. The scheme looks set to be here to stay, as it begins to wake people up to the vulnerability of emergency serviceworkers in their day to day lifesaving roles.
Have Your Say:
Is there enough awareness of mental health in the UK?
Related Links:
Blue Light Programme http://www.mind.org.uk/news-campaigns/campaigns/bluelight/
Time to Change http://www.time-to-change.org.uk/get-involved/get-your-workplace-involved/emergency-workers-and-mental-health
Ed Speaking to the BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-34608664
MIND Blue Light Twitter https://twitter.com/mindbluelight?lang=en-gb
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