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1
in 4 emergency services workers has thought about ending their lives
WIRRAL Mind are 1 of 4 Local Mind
Associations nationally to have been awarded a grant to support the mental
health and wellbeing of Merseyside's local emergency services personnel. During this
12 month innovative project, Wirral mind will be working with all 4 services
including Merseyside Fire and Rescue, Merseyside Police, North West Ambulance
Service and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to develop a network where all 4 services work together to tackle stigma around mental health,
build resilience within their workforce, raise wellbeing within the workplace
and link service personnel into further support where needed.
Merseyside Blue Light Mental Health and Wellbeing Project is part of the unique
and ambitious Blue Light Programme run by National Mind which is funded through
LIBOR funds, administered through the Cabinet Office. The programme's vision is
to improve the mental health and wellbeing of all Blue Light personnel.
Sara Hatta, Wirral Mind Training Manager, said:- "1 in 4 people in England
experience a mental health problem every year. Blue Light personnel experience
the same mental health issues as the general population, however research shows
us that these problems are exacerbated by the nature of their profession. Wirral
Mind are delighted to be supporting this Network, bringing services together to
have open and honest conversations around the mental health and wellbeing of
their dedicated personnel who undertake such incredibly difficult and lifesaving
work."
On Wednesday, 25 May 2016, Wirral Mind hosted the Launch Event for the Merseyside
Blue Light Mental Health and Wellbeing Network. The Deputy Mayor Elect and her
consort officially opened the event, Merseyside Police signed the Blue Light
Time to Change Pledge, senior personnel from all 4 Blue Light Services were in
attendance, and there was also a representative from National Mind who said a
few words, all highlighting the amazing, life saving work our blue light
services perform and the need for us to support them. |
