Mental Health of The Australian Police Force

ABC News reported how changes are impacting on the mental health of Australian Police.  On the 29^th May police officer Brett Forde was shot dead by gunman Rick Maddison who fired at police in an overnight standoff.

In a separate incident, Sergeant Brendan Poustie was hit by a car while he was jogging and soon after died in hospital.  He had worked for 15 years in the police force.

Speaking to ABC News Bruce Graydon managing director of Blue HOPE Australia  stated, “Whenever a police officer suffers a loss, whether you know that police officer or not, you feel a little bit of that as part of the police family.”

The Risk & Urgency For Police to Seek Help

Police officers are at risk of developing mental illness due to the heavy stress factors within their jobs which may include the loss of a work mate in the line of duty which is often felt right across the police force.

Those on the front line are usually witnesses to some of the worst tragedies we can imagine in life and in their jobs see the worst of humanity.  They’re amongst the first on the scene of tragic accidents, suicides, shootings and see the aftermath of all sorts of violence.

Although police officers are a tough resilient bunch, they too need mental health support and there’s no shame in seeking help.  There is no room for stigma when lives are at risk.

Daily Telegraph reported; 1300 NSW officers were medically discharged with psychological and physiological ­issues in just five years.  “During the 2011-12 financial year alone, more than 650 officers left the force with mental health issues, with 158 being discharged in 2015-16.”

Around 110 emergency workers suicided  between July 2000 and December 2012.

Blue HOPE Australia can be contacted on 1300 00 BLUE or 1300 002 583.

aifc Admin.

Sources

Heads Up

ABC News Australia

Blue Hope

The Daily Telegraph Australia

Photo: Australian Federal Police, file photo

Where to Find Help

Talk to your doctor who can point you in the right direction.

Visit CCAA to search for a Christian counsellor near you.

Visit ACA to search for a counsellor near you.

Free 24/7 Counselling Services

Lifeline on 13 11 14

Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800

MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978

Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467

Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36

Headspace on 1800 650 890

Studying at aifc

Have you thought about counselling?   It’s a great opportunity to learn how you can extend God’s love and grace to the hurting out in the community.

For those who would like to enrol in aifc’s accredited Christian counselling courses we have two intakes per year for courses commencing around the following months:

• At The beginning of each year in February.
• Mid-Year courses commence in July.

Enrolments open approximately 3 months prior the courses commencing. Enquire now and fill out the form with your details to receive course information by email.

Note: A Masters course in Christian counselling will be introduced in 2018.

Contact aifc Monday to Friday from 9am – 5pm with your enquiries on 6242 5111 or toll free on 1300 721 397