INTRODUCTION

Firstly a very big thank you for becoming mental health aware! One in four of us will experience poor mental health at some point in our lives, and with over half a million people in the UK currently holding security licences, this means that a lot of people in the industry will, at some point during their career, have mental health challenges. And on top of this, people working within the industry often connect with hundreds, if not thousands of others through the course of their work, or home and leisure activities, which makes having a basic understanding of mental health, and how to help and support others, even more important. To get everyone in the security sector mental health aware is undoubtedly a challenging and pioneering ambition, yet completely attainable. Stigma within the industry can often be seen as a significant barrier to acknowledging poor mental health and receiving the treatment and support people need, but by reading this booklet and learning more about mental health, you are taking the first step in understanding and improving your own mental wellbeing, as well as the wellbeing of others around you, and together we can start to make positive changes to conversations around mental health within the industry!

Stay safe.

Robin Barratt

Writer, Author, Publisher, Mental Health Support. Founder Safer Minds.