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Destigmatising mental health and asking for help

Everyone deserves to work in an environment that promotes positive mental health and wellbeing.  WA Police Force is working hard to improve employee and manager understanding of mental health, and recognise that asking for help is an act of strength, not weakness.

Having a mental health condition is not something anyone should feel ashamed about.  All employees need to feel they can get the help they need without the added pressure of feeling judged.  Everyone deserves to feel supported.

The challenging role police undertake is reflected in the higher incidence of psychological distress.  The first step towards a healthier state of mind is being prepared to ask for help.  We have noticed that not enough police officers identify they might need a hand and are prepared to seek help.  That is why we need to act together to ensure a strong network of support from management, team mates and you as their family.

Asking for help opens up a range of helpful options, strategies and opportunities that your loved one may not have had access to in the past.

Talking to a psychologist can provide the chance to have another person understand what they’re going through as they are well equipped to support your loved one to implement strategies to work through concerns.  Discussions with medical professionals and psychologists are confidential.  The only exception to this is if there is a genuine safety concern, as these professionals have a duty of care to act to ensure no-one is harmed, including themselves.

The sooner we can encourage access to the support they need, the sooner they can get back to enjoying daily life and work activities.

As a family member of a WA Police Force employee, you are their main support.  The care, patience and concern you show has positive influence that extends into all aspects of their life, including work.  We know you are the first line of defence in noticing the way work can impact day to day functioning. 

Therefore, it's important to be informed about and take notice of the early warning signs that indicate your loved one might be experiencing emotional distress.

You may be aware of the following:

• They may view their environment differently and be wary of others beyond their immediate social group
• Emotional distance and disconnection: shift work and rotating days off can result in absences from family events which can take a physical, mental and emotional toll
• They may be fatigued and have difficulty ‘catching up’ on sleep or getting to sleep, especially when changing shifts
• Hypervigilance and state of alertness as police officers are rarely completely off-duty as they can be recalled to duty at any time.

Having a supportive family unit and social network aware of the pressures of policing can help build personal resilience.  Staying connected as a family and promoting open communication can be empowering and help your loved one to feel safe, knowing they have support they can call on.

We recognise that this supportive role can be challenging.  Stay in tune with your own mental health and wellbeing, because it’s important not to support others to the detriment of your wellbeing.  WA Police Force has support services available to family members of personnel to ensure you can get the care you need while you support your loved one. 

Feeling heard and understood can enhance mental health and wellbeing. Counselling can provide the chance to talk things over with someone who is practised at listening and trained to help.

Counselling is non-judgemental.  It is a collaborative and confidential relationship that can contribute to self-awareness, improved self-esteem and make you feel less alone.  It can provide invaluable tools and techniques to both manage stress and lead a more balanced life.

As a family member of a WA Police Force employee, you have access to free counselling services. 

The Legal Assist and Financial Assist services can be accessed through our Employee Assistance Program by employees and their immediate family, with local or Health, Welfare and Safety management approval. 

The intention of the counselling is to provide information and practical advice, as well as psychological support to help you manage work, health and life issues.   We recognise that as a key support for our personnel, we need to ensure you are well supported.

Up to 6 sessions are available for you to attend as a couple or family.  Alternately, you may prefer to book some or all of the sessions by yourself to have a chance to talk things through.

This free counselling is also available to former police officers and their families for up to 24 months after leaving WA Police Force.

Contact the independent counselling service (Employee Assistance Program), free for WA Police Force personnel and their immediate family on 1800 959 053 (available 24/7), or download the app.  Refer to Telus Health online.

The best way to support your loved one if they are using drugs and alcohol, is to help them seek relevant treatment.

The goal of treatment is to reduce any harm to their physical and mental wellbeing, or to those around them.  Often as family you see things they themselves can’t; like changes in their thinking, mood or the way they interact with you and others.  You might want to tell them to stop using and you may have tried to help, but you can’t force them to change – they need to make the choice themselves.

Here are some tips you can use to support your loved one: 

• Be supportive and respectful.  This does not mean you have to support their drug or alcohol use; it means you are supporting them emotionally.  You can listen, talk about what is going on and let them know they’re not alone.
• Help them stay connected with friends to encourage them to maintain positive relationships so they can access social support.
• Encourage them to continue doing things that naturally help improve mood like sport, music, learning a new skill, volunteering or even simply getting outdoors – drug and alcohol free.
• Ask them what you can do to help them.  Often providing practical support, such as helping with cooking or household chores can take some of the pressure off.
• Encourage them to talk with you or someone they trust about what is worrying them.  These worries might be what triggers their drug and alcohol use.
• Help them find information and advice about drug and alcohol use online, over the phone or in person.  If they are not interested, you might suggest it again at a later time, but be careful not to hassle them about it.  You could also encourage them to contact Beyond Blue for some advice.
• Remember that change takes time.  Be patient and acknowledge their achievements, no matter how small, even if you don’t understand what they’re doing or why.

It’s also important to take care of your own health and wellbeing during this time.  Look after your own mental, physical and emotional health by taking time out to do things you enjoy, and have your own supportive friends to call on when you need it.  You might also find that at times you need a break, and that’s OK too.  Just make sure your loved one knows when you will be back so they don’t feel rejected or alone.

Here are some valuable resources to learn more about supporting a loved one with alcohol and drug abuse:

• Alcohol and Drug Information Service
• Supporting a loved one
• Treatment

You might also want to encourage your loved one to use this simple tool to help them identify if they could benefit from changing their drinking habits: 5 Minute Drinking Audit.

If you are concerned about the wellbeing of your loved one or need advice, contact the independent counselling service (Employee Assistance Program), free for WA Police Force employees and their immediate family members, available 24/7 on 1800 959 053.

Persistent feelings of sadness, flatness, despair, loneliness, hopelessness and other distressing or unpleasant feelings can be a sign your loved one is experiencing depression.

Other signs you might notice in your loved one if they are experiencing depression is a general sense of hopelessness about themselves and the world, and an inability for them to enjoy the things they normally would. Their appetites and their sleeping habits may also have changed. At the most extreme end of depression, your loved one may be expressing desire to die or a lack of caring about dying.

Sometimes the signs of depression are subtle. If you have noticed some subtle changes in your loved one’s mood and behaviours, the first thing to do is gently raise it with them – express to them in a concerned but gentle fashion what changes you have noticed in them and ask them how they are feeling. Encourage them to open up by reinforcing that feeling depressed is not a sign of weakness or defectiveness, but something that can occur to anyone. 

Other things you can do to help your loved one if they are suffering depression:

Try and keep them active by encouraging them to go for a walk with you or helping you with tasks

• Encourage them to wake up and go to sleep at the same time every day
• Encourage them to eat regularly
• Encourage your loved one to do one thing each day that is just for them e.g. eat their favourite food, watch their favourite show, sit outside in the sunshine for 15 minutes etc.
• Create opportunities where your loved one can share their feelings with you, but respect if they do not want to
• Encourage your loved one to speak to a GP to get a professional opinion on what they are going through and to inform any treatment
• Encourage your loved one to speak to a professional

For more information on helping with depression please go to the following:

• Beyond Blue or call 300 224 636
• Black Dog Institute
• MindSpot Clinic or call 1800 614 434 
  
  If you are concerned about the wellbeing of your loved one or need advice, contact the independent counselling service (Employee Assistance Program), free to WA Police Force personnel and their immediate family on 1800 959 053 (available 24/7) or a WA Police Force psychologist on 6229 5615 (8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday). 

It can be difficult to see your loved one in distress or acting out-of-character.  Attending emergency incidents can be traumatic and it’s normal to have an emotional response.  As we know, given the nature of the policing your loved one may witness harrowing situations, it’s vital we make sure the right support is available to encourage appropriate coping mechanisms and healing.

Research tells us that in around 85% of individuals, recovery from exposure to critical incidents usually occurs in the weeks following the experience.  In some cases more focused support from a psychologist may be needed to promote recovery.

As a loved one you may notice adverse reactions or emotional distress after an incident.  To better understand the warning signs, here is what you can look out for: 

• Avoidance of things associated with the incident including not being prepared to talk about what happened, preferring not to interact with people associated with it, or avoiding the location in which the incident took place
• Physiological arousal such as being agitated, easily startled or irritable
• Negative changes in their outlook towards themselves (‘I should have done more’), others (’no one can be trusted’), or the world in general (‘no one is safe’)
• Distractibility, as images and thoughts about the incident may pop in and out of their mind without warning; sometimes to the point they believe they are back at the incident for a moment. 

Here are some recommendations about how you can support your loved one:

• Be patient
• Be willing to listen when they want to talk about what is happening for them
• Encourage them to seek support either from friends or a professional
• Let them know you are there when they are ready to talk, or to just be beside them to sit in silence
• Encourage them to get back into their normal routine, making sure they have interests and outlets beyond work such as spending time as a family, connecting with friends, sleeping well, good nutrition and regular exercise.

Starting an open and honest conversation can be a positive step towards recovery.  Here are some ways you can approach the topic with your loved one.

• Ask what is happening for them and listen in a non-judgemental way
• Describe what you have noticed and why it worries you
• Listen with compassion and be comfortable with periods of silence
• Ask them directly what they need from you and how you can best support them
• Help them seek professional support: you may even be able to help make the appointment.

 If you are concerned about the wellbeing of your loved one or simply need some advice, contact the independent counselling service (Employee Assistance Program) that is free for WA Police Force personnel and their immediate family members 1800 959 053 or  call Health, Welfare and Safety on 6229 5615 (8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday) or emails Police Family Support.

Hypervigilance. Police officers need to be alert, aware of their surroundings, ready to react and quick thinking so they are able to keep themselves, their colleagues and our community safe.  When off duty, some may find it hard to switch off this highly alert state.

Hypervigilance is a state of increased awareness and state of alert. A person with hypervigilance can become extremely sensitive to their surroundings and be on high alert to ‘hidden dangers’ from both people and the environment.  Remaining in a hypervigilant state for long periods can affect the nervous system and negatively impact day to day life.  

When your loved one is off duty, the hypervigilant state may switch to the opposite biological state of being detached, withdrawn, fatigued, passive, and unmotivated.  You may observe them not wanting to engage in conversation, or being irritable and ‘lazy’.  Generally, after about 24 hours, they are likely to return to their normal level of engagement and interaction with family, friends, and off-duty activities.  During this 24-hour period, it’s important to encourage sleep, eating well, limiting alcohol consumption, and taking part in as much of their normal off-duty routine as possible.

Hypervigilance can be a symptom of mental health conditions including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Anxiety Disorders and Schizophrenia.

Signs of extreme hypervigilance include: 

• Adverse trauma reaction and PTSD
• Constantly anticipation of danger
• Hyper-alert state
• Startling easily
• Being on-guard, anticipating something bad happening
• Difficulty relaxing
• Difficulty sleeping
• Restlessness, agitation with physical reactions that may include a fast heart rate, sweating and/or rapid breathing
• Avoiding crowded/ busy environments, being wary of people, seeming to overreact, constantly checking the environment, oversensitivity to other’s expressions/ tones of voice.

Having the reassurance they have someone like you to love and support them is invaluable.  Here are some helpful ways you can assist their recovery:

• Support their sleep routine around shift work, ensuring they have the time and quiet they need to rest.
• Encourage healthy eating and limiting alcohol consumption, particularly in the recovery phase.
• Encourage moderate physical activity for 30-40 minutes to help them return to a normal state.
• Create a calendar together to find convenient times for family activities, as well as time for your loved one to do activities they enjoy with friends as well as some time alone.
• Invest in relationships with social/ community groups outside of the policing circle so there is a focus beyond work.
• Make time to have fun together.

If you are concerned about the wellbeing of your loved one or need advice, contact the independent counselling service (Employee Assistance Program), free for WA Police Force personnel and their immediate family on 1800 959 053 (available 24/7).

Reference: Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement

Health benefits of good work

Research shows long-term work absence and unemployment are harmful to physical and mental health and wellbeing. Moreover, the negative impacts of remaining away from work can also impact family members.  WA Police Force is committed to providing a safe and meaningful return to work as soon as is deemed medically appropriate. Early engagement of support assists with recovery timeframes and return to work outcomes.

Vocational Rehabilitation Steps

1. Initial Contact from Injury Management Client Liaison Officer to determine what support you require
2. Allocation to a Rehabilitation Consultant – A Police Staff member or an External Rehabilitation Provider
3. Medical Advice to determine impact of health condition(s) on work duties and confirm timeframes for recovery
4. Planning with the consultant and the workplace to develop a return to work plan
5. Active management support will be provided to monitor progress and facilitate gradual return to work
6. Closure following return to full duties and will include a follow-up call after 4 & 13 weeks
    

​​​​​​​Vocational Rehabilitation Unit

WA Police Force has a Vocational Rehabilitation Unit staffed by experienced allied health practitioners. The Vocational Rehabilitation Unit oversee the management of individual cases as well as a network of external providers who have been specifically inducted into the differences between WA Police Force entitlements and worker’s compensation.

Services include:

• Identification of barriers to return to work, goal setting and strategy development
• Coordination of medical management to ensure you receive the appropriate level er | Rof treatment for your condition
• Attendance at case conferences to confirm medical capacity for work and develop medically appropriate plans
• Assessment of the physical and psychological demands of your work duties
• Facilitation of return to work programs
• Provision of advice around recovery timeframes and capacity for alternate duties with OIC/managers
• Referral to WA Police Medical Specialists for medical assessments, risk assessments and operational reviews.
• Ergonomic Assessments
• Vocational counselling and assessment
• Career Transition Support

Injury Coordination and Support Services Unit: A team of police officers who provide direct support to police officers and staff following traumatic events, critical incidents or periods of sick leave.

Welfare Officers have many years of frontline policing experience.  They know the job, and the pressures and challenges it can bring.  They provide an important element of policing knowledge and connection to the range of services at Health, Welfare and Safety.

These dedicated officers ‘check in’ on the welfare of employees who are unwell, attend critical incidents, are assaulted at work or have an illness/injury.  They are there to provide support and an empathetic ear.  They can also refer on to services and other support as needed, like injury management and rehabilitation; psychological support services; information and advice about work and non-work related claims; corporate health and wellbeing programs and events; and chaplains. Six Police Chaplains work within Injury Coordination and Support Services (ICSS).

The aim of ICSS is to make sure the wellbeing of all employees is prioritised and confirmed, and there is a 'check in' mechanism the agency undertakes . ​​​​​​​

This support complements the contact and support provided by local management.

Peer Support Program

WA Police have an active Peer Support Program in place for all its employees. The state-wide program is coordinated by Injury Coordination and Support Services (ICSS) within the Health Welfare and Safety Division.

Peer Support works on the premise that employees may feel more comfortable seeking support or advice from a local, familiar and friendly face rather than seeking out a person not known to them. Its purpose is to provide an accessible group of trained employees who are willing to provide support and assistance to other employees during times of personal and/or work related stress.

What is the role of peer support officers?

Peer Support Officers provide support only and are not counsellors or psychologists nor do they take on any other role for which they are not trained or qualified. They have received basic training to determine the person’s needs and provide advice regarding the appropriate means of referral. They are also at the frontline to recognise problems, provide help and refer colleagues to other professional services when needed.
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Peer Support Officers can provide some confidential support and help employees seek the appropriate assistance, before problems become more serious. 

The Western Australia Police Force (WAPF) Psychology Unit exists to provide excellence in psychological care to better the wellbeing and mental health of both officers and staff across the entire Western Australia Police Force.

Our unit currently comprises of a team of Clinical, Forensic and Counselling Psychologists and is overseen by a Senior Supervisor and Chief Psychologist.

The Psychology Unit currently provides support in the following ways:

• provides specialist clinical support and treatment to individual employees (both officers and staff)
• provides 24/7 crisis and critical incident response across the agency
• assesses and manages psychological risk at individual, business unit, and agency levels
• provides specialist consultancy to leaders to assist in managing, enhancing, and promoting psychological wellbeing in the workplace  
• completes Pre-Deployment Assessments for those going in to specialist support units that are high-risk/high-demand
• completes wellbeing reviews for employees in those specialist support units that are high-risk/high-demand
• develops and delivers training and psychoeducation across the agency
• normalises and destigmatises psychological principles and interventions through formal and informal health promotion initiatives.

Additionally Free counselling is available through an independent counselling service (Employee Assistance Program) for two years after your family member retires from the WA Police Force.

The counselling provided is a professional, confidential and free service available 24/7. 

If you feel they would benefit from talking to someone call 1800 959 053.

Police Separation and Transition manages:

• Police Compensation Scheme
• Medical Retirements (Police/APLO and PAO)
• Police Transition
• Former Officers Medical Benefits Scheme

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Police Compensation Scheme

The scheme has been introduced for Police Officers and Aboriginal Police Liaison Officers who are medically retired due to work related illness or injury. The scheme enhances the level of care and support provided to officers who are no longer able to serve as a result of being injured in the line of duty.

The scheme will supplement rather than replace existing in-service and post-service entitlements, including the Former Officer’s Medical Benefits Scheme.

Medical Retirements (Police/APLO and PAO)

On 27 November 2019 a stand-alone legislative scheme for medical retirement commenced that enabled members who are medically unfit be retired specifically on medical grounds.

The purpose of the Medical Board’s examination is to assist the Commissioner of Police to determine whether the officer should be retired on medical grounds. The aim for process not to be adversarial, focus on the positive, and build new opportunities.

Police Transition

A new and evolving project focussing of departure with dignity, building capacity after leaving the agency and creating new and positive opportunities.

Fortem Australia is a not-for-profit organisation that supports and provides specialised mental health and wellbeing of first responder families – the people who protect and care for Australian communities including WA Police Force.

The Fortem team in WA has organised several healthy and Free activities in Perth metropolitan area for our first responders and their families. Fortem’s Wellbeing Activities are underpinned by the 5 Ways to Wellbeing:

Connect – Learn – Give – Move - Be

Fortem’s Wellbeing Activities are designed to build resilience by engaging individuals and their social networks to proactively look after their health and seek support when they need it. Fortem Australia is a not-for-profit organisation that supports and provides specialised mental health and wellbeing of first responder families – the people who protect and care for Australian communities including WA Police Force.

The Fortem team in WA has organised several healthy and Free activities in Perth metropolitan area for our first responders and their families.

 Each wellbeing activity supports participants to trust in their own abilities and to adapt and cope with new situations while reducing stress. This enables first responders and their families to engage new situations with the confidence and optimism necessary for positive wellbeing. All wellbeing activities are free to attend.

At times, wellbeing events may have restricted capacity, in which case we may need to limit the number of places available to each family. Reach out and ask if you aren’t sure. Eligible First Responders, Family members and close inner circles can attend.

Find activities in WA for 2024

https://fortemaustralia.org.au/wellbeing-activities-calendar