Dyfed Powys Police Supports Time To Talk Day 2nd February 2017

Dyfed Powys Police will show its support and commitment to the National “Time to Talk Day” by encouraging its’ staff to have a conversation about mental health. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Each year It is believed that 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem and those working in the emergency services are thought to be more at risk. It is also estimated that up to 40% of calls to police forces relate to those who are vulnerable. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Chief Constable Mark Collins who is the National Police Lead for Mental Health said ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Mental health can affect any one of us, having good mental health is as important as having good physical health. Recent research suggests that up to 40% of police incidents may be linked to mental health and the mental wellbeing of our officers, staff and communities is of fundamental importance. It should not be treated as a ‘taboo’ subject, we can all help to break the silence, talking about mental health doesn’t need to be difficult and can make a big difference.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Dyfed-Powys Police will be marking this important day by holding a series of Tea and Talk events across the force area in order to encourage officers and staff to take a few minutes out of their busy schedules to sit down, and chat about mental health and wellbeing. We want people to be able to freely talk about this sometimes sensitive subject. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

By holding these events, we will not only be getting our officers and staff talking about mental health but it will also raise the profile of Mental Health issues across Wales and help to end the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​