This piece was promoted by a conversation I had with a long-standing industry friend a couple of weeks ago when I mentioned that I was hoping to speak at some events this year around the topic of mental health and wellbeing for frontline security officers. Since that conversation, I have had confirmation that I have accepted an invitation to speak at GSX in Atlanta, Georgia, in September.
This person was aware but I had written and spoken on this topic previously and queried (perhaps with some cynicism) why I had become interested in this subject recently, as in their view the pressure on mental health for officers were well known about and it had always been this way or at least for a considerable period. This person has spent a lot more time in this sector of the industry than I in recent years and although I have been an active supporter and ambassador for the veterans’ mental health charity PTSD Resolution for about 10 years, in some ways it appears that I am ‘late to the party’ on the subject of mental health … but I'm here now.
I established the UK and Ireland operation for the International Foundation for Protection Officers (IFPO) almost two years ago after stepping down from my role as Co Vice Chair / Acting Chair of the UK Chapter of ASIS International (I was previously, for six years a main board director of the Security Institute). As a membership body, IFPO is focussed very much on education, certification and career pathways, and has been for over 30 years. However, it became clear on talking to people, especially the members of our UK & I Advisory Board, that the problem of mental health was serious and getting worse. The AB is a fantastic group of security professionals and volunteer leaders from across the security sector and, collectively and collaboratively, we are starting to have a real impact. There was a good paper in 2019 Violence, abuse and the implications for mental health and wellbeing of security operatives in the United Kingdom: the invisible problem (Talas, Button, Doyle and Das) from 2019 and a few surveys on physical abuse and attacks and there were a few people talking out the subject, but not a lot else.
Another influence on me when I was invited to judge the ACS Pacesetters, Security Officers of Distinction Awards. Of the around 90 entries, I would guess that a third of the nominees had had to deal with a Mental Health incident, often suicide prevention. I am looking forward to judging this year’s awards.
Anyway, it is easy to talk about these things, but what are we doing? IFPO has a Wellbeing Working Group and we have produced one webinar with one more planned from May. We have a Wellbeing Resources Page on our site www.ifpo.uk with links to various resources, articles and videos. Working with partners Ethos Farm, we have developed the Being Human, Mental Health Awareness program which was a finalist in both the UK and Irish Outstanding Security Performance Awards (OSPAs) and with our education partner Nuology, we have an accredited Level 1 program in Mental Health and Wellbeing with the Level 2 launching soon. We have also a very interesting industry initiative starting shortly (no spoilers)
So, rather than thinking that Mental Health issues are just part of working in frontline security, I’d encourage you all to take some steps to look after both your own wellbeing and that of you team. Although we have a long way to go, we are making progress and remember, Security Minds Matter.
