Two years ago, I read "Blue" by John Sutherland, a powerful book about a senior police officer's struggle with mental health. This book had a big impact and kickstarted our journey towards the development of an important project for our organisation.
Not long after that, I encountered an inspiring film project by Sergeant Brad Greenstreet from the New Zealand Police. The "Empty Chair" project highlighted police officers sharing their mental health experiences. It was an eye-opener, making me wish to do something similar for our Humberside Police community.
Drawing inspiration from New Zealand, my mental health team and I created "Strength in Being Blue" - a film aimed at addressing mental health issues within the police force. The idea was to break the myth that police officers are immune to mental health challenges and to normalise the conversations around it.
Six courageous Humberside Police serving officers and staff bravely shared their personal struggles with mental health on camera. They talked about recognising their issues, the feelings involved, the steps they took to address them, and offered tips for others who might be in similar situations.
The production of this film was a collaborative effort. We hired a local professional film company and worked with our internal communications team to ensure a safe and professional environment for everyone involved. Additionally, our in-house mental health team, including myself and three skilled therapists, supported the participants throughout, offering emotional support and ensuring their continued wellbeing.
This film is a labour of love, courage, and care. My colleagues who volunteered to be in the film showed immense bravery by sharing their stories publicly.
In my eight years as a trauma psychotherapist working with police officers, I've often been moved by their resilience and dedication to making the world a safer and better place. However, a common theme over the years has also been one of denial and fear of showing vulnerability, that somehow asking for help with mental health issues was a sign of weakness. This film, made by the officers themselves, directly and bravely challenges this belief. The launch of "Strength in Being Blue" at the 2023 Humberside force wellbeing conference was a real moment of pride. The film received a standing ovation and sparked an honest discussion about mental health challenges faced by our staff.
Our commitment to this project and others stems from a deep understanding of the mental health challenges faced by police personnel. The 2018 ‘Policing: the job, the life’ survey revealed alarming findings about mental health and PTSD among police officers. It showed that many are unaware of their mental health issues and avoid seeking help.
We have now shown the film to most of the officers and staff in Humberside Police, always ensuring that there is a trigger warning at the beginning and someone on hand to support if necessary. Going forward, it will also be a part of induction days for new staff and will be available on the force intranet.
We are tracking the impact of the film through downloads, views, and specific feedback questions, like whether the film helps in recognising personal mental health needs or in seeking help but we’re already seeing that the film has already made a significant difference. It offers a platform for police officers and staff to discuss mental health openly and supportively.
Two of the people who took part in the project spoke to us about how they felt about their own personal involvement in the project.
- Simon, a Chief Superintendent, expressed how taking part in the project had helped him and how much he hoped it would assist others in recognising their mental health needs.
- Kailey, an Admin Assistant, said she found the process emotionally challenging but fulfilling, and that she hopes her story would help others feel supported and less alone.
The feedback since the 2023 wellbeing conference has been overwhelmingly positive. A significant majority of the attendees felt more equipped to recognise their mental health needs and seek help after watching the film. We plan to continue using "Strength in Being Blue" in our training programs and of course we’ve also shared it with our New Zealand colleagues who inspired us.
In conclusion, "Strength in Being Blue" is more than just a film. It's a movement towards understanding, acknowledging, and supporting mental health in the police force. It's about showing that strength lies in being open about our vulnerabilities and challenges and not being afraid to ask for help.
Copyright statement
Our published blog articles are written or supplied by the third parties we’ve identified and are not available for re-use under the non-commercial College licence. Anyone wishing to copy or reuse all or any part of these articles will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright owner(s).