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Northern Ireland police federation sets up mental health fund Northern Ireland police federation sets up mental health fund
(35 minutes later)
The Police Federation of Northern Ireland has become the first policing “union” in the UK to create a fighting fund to help officers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).The Police Federation of Northern Ireland has become the first policing “union” in the UK to create a fighting fund to help officers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The federation has set aside £1m for rank and file officers who are suffering from PTSD and other psychological illnesses. It includes help for those who are being targeted for terrorist attack.The federation has set aside £1m for rank and file officers who are suffering from PTSD and other psychological illnesses. It includes help for those who are being targeted for terrorist attack.
The current threat level against members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) from dissident republican paramilitaries has been classified as “severe” in the region. The current threat level against members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) from dissident republican paramilitaries has been classified as “severe”.
The fund was announced on Wednesday at the federation’s annual conference in Belfast.The fund was announced on Wednesday at the federation’s annual conference in Belfast.
The federation said PTSD, anxiety and depression were leading to an increase in their members taking sick leave. Mark Lindsay, the federation’s chairman in the region, said 37,674 days were lost to mental health problems last year – a jump of 60% since 2013. The federation said PTSD, anxiety and depression were leading to an increase in the number of their members taking sick leave. Mark Lindsay, the federation’s chairman in the region, said 37,674 days were lost to mental health problems last year – a jump of 60% since 2013.
Lindsay said: “The intention behind this funding is to significantly reduce the number of days lost through psychological illness and improve the overall wellbeing of our members.Lindsay said: “The intention behind this funding is to significantly reduce the number of days lost through psychological illness and improve the overall wellbeing of our members.
“This problem is getting progressively worse. It needs this urgent intervention. Whole families are suffering because those hurting are falling through the cracks.”“This problem is getting progressively worse. It needs this urgent intervention. Whole families are suffering because those hurting are falling through the cracks.”
He said the federation’s new “psychological wellbeing fund” would provide additional therapists and psychologists to help police officers suffering from PTSD and other stress-related mental health issues.He said the federation’s new “psychological wellbeing fund” would provide additional therapists and psychologists to help police officers suffering from PTSD and other stress-related mental health issues.
He stressed that the federation was “not replacing the obligation on the PSNI and the DoJ [Department of Justice] to address and adequately fund the issues. Nor in the future will we allow them to abdicate their responsibilities.”He stressed that the federation was “not replacing the obligation on the PSNI and the DoJ [Department of Justice] to address and adequately fund the issues. Nor in the future will we allow them to abdicate their responsibilities.”
In his speech Lindsay also emphasised that his members were not policing a “normal” society given the continued terrorist threat to the PSNI and the wider population of Northern Ireland. In his speech, Lindsay also emphasised that his members were not policing a “normal” society given the continued terrorist threat to the PSNI and the wider population of Northern Ireland.
He said: “The clear message from here today is that as much as we may desire ‘normal’ policing, we’re in a situation that is anything but normal.”He said: “The clear message from here today is that as much as we may desire ‘normal’ policing, we’re in a situation that is anything but normal.”
Lindsay said the murder earlier this year of the prison officer Adrian Ismay by the New IRA, the attempted murder of PSNI officers, the continuing intelligence gathering and targeting against policemen and women, and the recent finds of dissident republican weapons meant that “you most certainly do not have a normal society, and any pretence that we have has to be honestly confronted”.Lindsay said the murder earlier this year of the prison officer Adrian Ismay by the New IRA, the attempted murder of PSNI officers, the continuing intelligence gathering and targeting against policemen and women, and the recent finds of dissident republican weapons meant that “you most certainly do not have a normal society, and any pretence that we have has to be honestly confronted”.