Officers shouldn’t ‘tough it out’ if they are struggling at work
DON’T tough it out if you are struggling with mental illness at work, the Chair Elect of South Yorkshire Police Federation has told members.
Zuleika Payne has urged officers to talk to someone and seek help if they are struggling at work.
She was responding to the results of a survey undertaken by the Police Dependants’ Trust, which showed that officers were twice as likely to take a week or more of work with mental health problems than with a physical injury.
Zuleika said: Early intervention is important. Talk to somebody, seek help, get some advice. Don’t be afraid to come forward.
“People do understand, people do listen, people do empathise. Don’t think you have to tough it out. But early intervention is the key, and talk to somebody.”
She added that the results of the survey were no surprise given what police officers face in their daily jobs.
“When you look at the work that’s being done, not just in our force but nationally, and the increased risks that officers face, the nature of the incidents they’re dealing with and the increase and a significant, dramatic increase in the pressures that officers are under, you could almost anticipate this,” she said.
“And this is why it’s so important that we have the joined up thinking, we have other agencies and organisations that are there to assist, support and advise officers, because this is going to happen all the more.
“We need those support services, the demands placed on them will increase, and unfortunately we can’t afford to have officers in this situation.
“It’s grossly unfair that people who offer themselves up to become a police officer and they face increased danger, put themselves in harm’s way, and then to think that there wouldn’t be any support at the end of it, it’s almost neglectful.
So it’s really vital that we have somebody there to help pick up the pieces and support these individuals who are in that situation as a result of serving as a police officer.”
(Pictured posed by model)