Under Pressure ? You are not alone...

I recently had some physical health issues which were attributed to latent stress, and having gained an insight into this based on my own experiences, and a surprising number of colleagues telling me they had also been down this road, I decided to look into this matter further.

PTSD, combat stress, and depressive issues are quite well understood in the military, hence the medical support, and rotation system for combat units for tours of duty `In Theatre` in places such as Iraq and Afghanistan.

In the Emergency Services, and the Police in particular, I would argue that the picture is less clear and the guidelines and response are blurred to these issues. I believe a modern tour of duty in the British Military on the front line to be of the order of six or seven months...Join the Police in my era and a frontline posting should or could last 30 years and nowadays thanks to May, Cameron and Winsor could be 35 years plus !

It is little wonder that in the current period of Police modernisation against a background of austerity, dwindling resources and financial and economic pressures that Stress and Depressive issues are emerging countrywide as a cause of concern in the Police Service, and not just in GMP.

Sickness absence has been rising with these root causes, and I would argue that the true picture may be masked as Officers go sick with other issues, being reluctant to declare the true cause of absence for fear of committing career suicide, or affecting future promotion or opportunities in specialist units.

As serving Police Officers we have a duty to not just the public but each other; a quiet word or noticing behaviour out of character maybe the first steps to identifying problems with a colleague and helping them to get the help and support needed to guide them through a difficult time.

Federation Representatives can confidentially assist sufferers to get advice and support as appropriate and in a non judgemental fashion.

It should be borne in mind that symptoms can be physical in nature and not all in the mind, and the old prejudices of `swinging the lead` and `shirking` by declaring these issues can be cruel, ill informed and harmful to the health and well being of a genuine sufferer.

The Health and Safety Executive website is a good source of information and I quote from it as below...

Key message

Stress can cause changes in those experiencing it. In some cases there are clear signs that people are experiencing stress at work and if these can be identified early, action can be taken before the pressure becomes a problem. This may make it easier to reduce and eliminate the causes. It is important that everyone looks out for changes in a person's or a group's behaviour. However, in many cases the changes may only be noticeable to the person subject to the stress and so it is also important to look at how you are feeling and try to identify any potential issues you may have as early as possible and take positive action to address them; this may be raising the matter with a line manager, talking to an occupational health professional or your own GP.

 

I would argue that proper training for staff and particularly managers in this key area is crucial to prevent possible human tragedy and suffering by early and appropriate intervention.

More combat veterans have died by their own hand since the Falklands War than were killed in it....A sobering thought.

Please look out for the following signs and symptoms in yourself and colleagues and treat as warning bells;

 

MENTAL HEALTH :

Short term ;  Anxious, changed moods, negative moods, more emotional,disturbed sleep.

Long Term ; Anxiety and depression.

HEART, LUNGS & CIRCULATION.

Short term ;  Changes in heart rate, and increased blood pressure palpitations.

Long Term ; High blood pressure, heart disease.

SKIN.

Short term ;  Sweating, reddening, blushing.

Long Term ; Psoriasis, Excema.

METABOLISM.

Short term ;  Mobilisation of energy sources, increased cholesterol in blood, increased  glucose availability.

Long Term ; Inefficient energy use, long term fat deposition, Insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome.

MUSCLES AND JOINTS.

Short term ; Increased blood flow to muscles, Muscle tension.

Long Term ; Loss of muscle function and structure,stiffness, soreness, regional pain and osteoporosis.

DIGESTIVE SYSTEM.

Short term ; Butterflies in stomach, dry mouth, suppression of digestion/nausea.

Long Term ; Appetite Suppression, reduced ability to repair ulcers,gut disorders such as IBS.

REPRODUCTION AND GROWTH.

Short term ; Suppression of reproductive and growth hormones.

Long Term ; Decreased testosterone, erectile dysfunction, loss of libido and reproductive abnormalities.

 

IMMUNE SYSTEM.

Short term ; Enhancement of specific immune responses eg to deal with wounding.

Long Term ; Eventual immune suppression leading to icreased susceptibility to some diseases.

Signs of stress in individuals

If you are suffering from some of the following symptoms it may indicate that you are feeling the effects of stress. If you find that work or aspects of your work bring on or make these symptoms worse, speak to your line manager, trade union representative or your HR department. It may be that some action taken at an early stage will ease the stress and reduce or stop the symptoms.

Emotional symptoms

·         Negative or depressive feeling

·         Disappointment with yourself

·         Increased emotional reactions - more tearful or sensitive or aggressive

·         Loneliness, withdrawn

·         Loss of motivation commitment and confidence

·         Mood swings (not behavioural)

Mental

·         Confusion, indecision

·         Cant concentrate

·         Poor memory

Changes from your normal behaviour

·         Changes in eating habits

·         Increased smoking, drinking or drug taking 'to cope'

·         Mood swings effecting your behaviour

·         Changes in sleep patterns

·         Twitchy, nervous behaviour

·         Changes in attendance such as arriving later or taking more time off.

Please note these are indicators of behaviour of those experiencing stress. They may also be indicative of other conditions. If you are concerned about yourself please seek advice from your GP. If you are concerned about a colleague try to convince them to see their GP.

 

My scribbling’s above are not meant to alarm or bore you, but to raise awareness about a topic I feel passionately about. Please look with fresh eyes at yourself and others in light of the above and if necessary act positively, you may save a person`s life, health or career.

Stay safe and be careful out there.

Ian Campbell.