The National Police Wellbeing Service has developed a series of films to encourage officers and staff to reflect on their own experiences, spark conversations about wellbeing, and highlight the support available to them.
You can find out more about them and access links to watch the films here.
This series of short but powerful films are all based on real-life experiences of working police officers and staff.
They have been developed to provide a creative way to help us understand some of the challenges of a policing career and avoid the danger of normalising what we are exposed to - which can potentially build up over time and start to have an impact.
The films act as a platform to encourage officers and staff not only to be more self-aware but also encourage thinking and discussion on how systems and processes within forces could work better to support people.
They give us a different way of being able to reach officers and staff and encourage them to think, not only about themselves, but about their colleagues, and their families too, with signposting to places for support or guidance should they need it.
The films have all been based on, and developed by, people with first-hand experience of working in policing. We carried out interviews with a range of officers and staff, psychologists and other experts to establish a broad view of the challenges faced by those working in policing. The issues covered are also reflective of what has been identified through our national police wellbeing surveys.
The films also pick up on key themes of the Police Covenant including peer support, assaults on duty, the impact on families, and leaving the police service.
A unique aspect to these resources is that each film is accompanied by a wraparound analysis from an experienced psychotherapist with vast experience in supporting police officers and staff. This analysis guides our thinking, identifies some of the key themes that emerge and provides some helpful signposting to resources or support.
There are three films in the series which focus on key stages of a policing career:
We've been really fortunate that several people have reached out to us after they have seen the films to give us some feedback and tell us how they felt.
This is the whole reason we develop these products - if we can reach even just a few people, and give them the encouragement or support they need to seek help then that's a step in the right direction.
BUT we want to reach even more people, keep on breaking down stigma, creating open discussions about the unique challenges faced by those in policing, and empowering people to support themselves, and each other.
“Thank you to everyone involved in creating the package. You will never understand just how much you have helped, and I can't thank you enough.”
“This package has reassured me that I am not alone. I can't put into words how helpful and useful this was from a personal point of view and I will continue to show other colleagues…and hopefully it will positively impact their mental health the way it has done mine."
“A few months ago, I watched the film 'Meaning' during an input at work. The film has continued to replay in my head and helped me come to realise the need to ask for help. Today, I took the first step thanks to you.
I've mentioned to my wife how the film has helped me, and I would be grateful if there's some way of being able to show her, as the film touched on some of the traumatic events I've experienced but I can’t verbalise.
“Very interested having just attended your session for the launch of "Meaning", which I thought was incredible. My intention is to use it in training new sergeants and police staff line managers to raise awareness of the policing role and to reinforce the importance of wellbeing.”
“I have recently seen this video on a Sergeants skills course and think it is a brilliant resource. I would like to watch the video again alongside family members to help explain the different mental aspects that affect police officers.”