Wellbeing & Mental Health
At IFPO we are aware of the pressures on security & protection professionals.
By the very nature of our careers, we are exposed to a lot of pressures, often work in isolated situations and expected to be the strong stalwart for everyone else to rely upon. Traditionally security professions carry this pressure silently and internally whilst portraying a strong and steady outward demeanour to give confidence to everyone else, who rely on us for their protection & safety.
Despite this, security professionals are still people, and still subject to the same life pressures and events as everyone around them. However, we have chosen to perform this role of protector, which itself can cause additional stresses and expose us to knowledge and situations that others may never face as we shield them from risk.
This can all take a toll on our health and wellbeing.
At IFPO UK, not only are we committed to being at the forefront of education for security and protection professionals as led by the international Foundation that we are part of, but we are also committed to recognising and raising awareness of health, wellbeing and welfare issues affecting security professionals. This includes all forms of mental health.
The IFPO Wellbeing Pages
IFPO is aware of the pressures on security & protection professionals.
By the very nature of our careers, we are exposed to a lot of pressures, often work in isolated situations and expected to be the strong stalwart for everyone else to rely upon. Traditionally security professions carry this pressure silently and internally whilst portraying a strong and steady outward demeanour to give confidence to everyone else, who rely on us for their protection & safety.
Despite this, security professionals are still people, and still subject to the same life pressures and events as everyone around them. However, we have chosen to perform this role of protector, which itself can cause additional stresses and expose us to knowledge and situations that others may never face as we shield them from risk.
This can all take a toll on our health and wellbeing.
At IFPO UK, not only are we committed to being at the forefront of education for security and protection professionals as led by the international Foundation that we are part of, but we are also committed to recognising and raising awareness of health, wellbeing and welfare issues affecting security professionals. This includes all forms of mental health.
Why Is Wellbeing So Important
We are committed to encouraging all security professionals to look after their own wellbeing, and that of their colleagues, friends and families.
#securitymindsmatter
We are also committed to raising awareness of mental health issues and breaking down the stigma attached to these issues. Mental health is as important as physical health and there are plenty of things that can affect either (or both!). Mental health can and does affect anyone. IFPO are determined to raise awareness and acceptability of talking about such issues.
To quote a couple of clichés, #itsoknottobeok and #itsisgoodtotalk
Making Wellbeing Normal Practice
We intend to keep this publicly accessible, as out commitment is to the whole security and protection industry and whilst we would encourage all professionals in it to join our IFPO family for the additional support and networking this brings, we also recognise that not everyone can at this time. So we will be keeping these pages accessible to all in our industry and those outside it.
We will be steadily developing the content and building up a reference library of reliable and informative material – that you can access as discreetly as you wish or refer others to as a point of reference.
We will also be building up a collection of trusted signposts to help you find further information or seeking additional support.
We will be working with expert partners to make this section of the IFPO UK website as informative and useful one-stop reference tool as possible, and helping you place wellbeing in all forms at the forefront of our industry. IFPO intend leading by example in the sector and embracing and shining light on all the challenges that face our lives.
IFPO UK will also be working with other security industry bodies and raising and representing wellbeing issues within the industry to make these more widely known about and accepted. IFPO UK genuinely cares about the wellbeing of those in our career and will be doing all we can to raise awareness of all matters that affect us, our colleagues, our families and even those we protect.
Please come back often and learn more, whether for yourself or to help others. Please also feel free to link to or reference these pages. They are intended as a source of information for everyone.
By the very nature of our work, we take care of and protect those around us, awareness of wellbeing is a part of this.
These pages will be open access and available 24/7, 365 – just like our profession.
We also advocate that #itsisoktoask
Indeed, asking for help is not a sign of weakness. You would take care of a twisted ankle or ask for medical help for a broken arm without thinking twice about it….
And similarly, if you saw a colleague or acquaintance unusually limping, you would ask if they are ok wouldn’t you?
The same should be true for wellbeing and mental health.
The IFPO Wellbeing Team
It is our intention to use these pages to build an easily accessible resource of information and signposting.
We would also welcome hearing from you with any suggestion and comments – this page is after all intended for all of us, so we want it to be as inclusive as possible and welcome your involvement.
You can contact the team at wellbeing@ifpo.uk
But please note that we are not an emergency service and this email is not monitored 24/7. For emergencies and support please refer to our Signpost and Useful Contacts section
Making Wellbeing Normal Practice
We intend to keep this publicly accessible, as out commitment is to the whole security and protection industry and whilst we would encourage all professionals in it to join our IFPO family for the additional support and networking this brings, we also recognise that not everyone can at this time. So we will be keeping these pages accessible to all in our industry and those outside it.
We will be steadily developing the content and building up a reference library of reliable and informative material – that you can access as discreetly as you wish or refer others to as a point of reference.
We will also be building up a collection of trusted signposts to help you find further information or seeking additional support.
We will be working with expert partners to make this section of the IFPO UK website as informative and useful one-stop reference tool as possible, and helping you place wellbeing in all forms at the forefront of our industry. IFPO intend leading by example in the sector and embracing and shining light on all the challenges that face our lives.
IFPO UK will also be working with other security industry bodies and raising and representing wellbeing issues within the industry to make these more widely known about and accepted. IFPO UK genuinely cares about the wellbeing of those in our career and will be doing all we can to raise awareness of all matters that affect us, our colleagues, our families and even those we protect.
Please come back often and learn more, whether for yourself or to help others. Please also feel free to link to or reference these pages. They are intended as a source of information for everyone.
By the very nature of our work, we take care of and protect those around us, awareness of wellbeing is a part of this.
These pages will be open access and available 24/7, 365 – just like our profession.