Dyfed-Powys Police is supporting World Mental Health Day which falls on Tuesday, October 10th 2017.
The theme for 2017 is Mental Health in the Workplace and according to the mental health foundation, 67% of employees feel scared, embarrassed or unable to talk about mental health concerns with their employer.
Chief Constable Mark Collins who is the National Police Lead for Mental Health said: “Mental health can affect any one of us, having good mental health is as important as having good physical health.
“Recent research suggests that up to 40% of police incidents may be linked to mental health and the mental wellbeing of our officers, staff and communities is of fundamental importance. It should not be treated as a taboo subject, we can all help to break the silence, talking about mental health doesn’t need to be difficult and can make a big difference.”
Dyfed-Powys Police will be marking this important day by holding Mental Health Wellbeing Event which will be open to all staff and officers. Guest speakers will give an input on issues such as PTSD, the MIND Blue Light Programme, the habits of people with concealed depression and the impact on diet on our mental health.
There will also be information about the support services, both externally and internally, which are available to staff and officers.
Mr Collins added: “By showing our support for this event, we will not only be getting our officers and staff talking about mental health but raising the profile of Mental Health issues generally and ending the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health.
“As I often say: ‘It’s okay NOT to be okay!’”
Measures such as counselling, wellbeing interventions and support on managing workloads is available to officers and staff across Dyfed-Powys. The force is also signed up to Time to Change Wales, which aims to remove the stigma around mental health in the workplace. An internal health and wellbeing strategy was recently launched to ensure the mental and physical health of its officers and staff.
