"You see tough things as a police officer. I felt sick as memories flooded back"

When people used to ask me, a serving police officer, how I was feeling, “OK” became an easy phrase to use. It didn’t show how much I was hiding.

I have worked for Essex police for more than 30 years. After 20 years of service, in 2013 my mental health started to decline. There were no big warning signs, no alarms, no sirens, just the start of a really difficult period of my life.

As a police officer, you see tough things. I started to have flashbacks to certain incidents I had encountered. I would feel sick as some memories flooded back. At other times I would feel an overwhelming sense of despair, feeling that life was just not worth it.

Alan Phillips: ‘There were no big warning signs’

In January 2014 I started to drink, a little too much most days. My behaviour at work became more erratic and on several occasions I was spoken to by supervisors. I wanted to tell them how I felt but I couldn’t find the words. I gave little clues but these were not picked up on. When anyone asked me if anything was wrong, I’d always respond that I was OK.

Mentally, I crashed in April 2014. I spent a week-and-a-half unable to move, not washing, shaving or dressing, just staying in bed. I finally saw a doctor. I’d been off work nearly a week and my wife encouraged me to go.

This wasn’t the end of the problems – I still live with stress, depression and symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder. But at the moment, I’m managing; I’m working. I’m open about my mental health now and that has changed a lot. Being in the police force can mean you encounter some difficult things. This condition is not because we are weak; thoughts of suicide are not a sign that you are a coward. This condition is one suffered by the strong.

I have been involved with Mind’s Blue Light programme from the beginning. Mind’s research shows that nearly two-thirds (63%) of emergency service staff and volunteers have contemplated leaving their job or voluntary role because of stress or poor mental health.

The Blue Light infoline offers vital support to people in the emergency services who may be experiencing similar feelings to the ones I had. It serves an important purpose. If you have any worries at all about your mental health while working in the emergency services and are afraid to tell someone, this service can offer a confidential ear and tailor support to the field you work in.

Once you speak, people will listen, but you have to tell them.

Alan Phillips is a detective constable in Essex police. Mind has just run a Blue Light Infoline awareness week.

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"You see tough things as a police officer. I felt sick as memories flooded back"

Weather: Medical professional swaps flooded surgical treatment for Staines hotel suite

The area was employed as a surgical procedure by Dr John Pittard, 66, soon after his personal practice was flooded. With a large double bed and mahogany desk, it produced an best substitute at brief notice, he stated. The room also has panoramic views of the River Thames, the waterway responsible for flooding dozens on properties and businesses in the town.

“Since everyone is even now in that denial phase, such as me. One or two have stated it’s really surreal, right here we are in a space that is as glamorous as you can get in an oldie worldy location in the middle of all this strife and difficulty.

“A single common instance was a patient who had lived in a house for thirty or forty many years. She was evacuated by the police a day or so ago and they have gone back in waders and discovered there it 4 feet of water in their living space and every thing destroyed and it is the sentiment of that, some men and women have discovered this really very distressing.”

Dr Pittard closed his surgical procedure after the automobile park flooded and drainage stopped doing work, which means the toilets could not be utilized. Administration personnel from his practice stayed behind to response phones and then carry above patients data.

Dr Pittard explained: “The hotel is only 150 metres from the surgical treatment and there is a pharmacy only 200 metres away at the supermarket. So we are booking men and women in over the cellphone and bringing the information up in wellington boots retaining it confidential as I never have a computer right here. It really is worked pretty effectively and I am seeing someone about as soon as every single twenty minutes, about half the velocity I typically function.”

Jim Ross, the landlord of The Swan, gave Dr Pritchard use of the room – which normal fees £145 a evening – for free of charge. The pub has also turn into a refuge centre for emergency companies, folks who have been evacuated and volunteers, such as members of Surrey 4×4, a group of 4×4 owners who have given up their time to rescue men and women trapped by the floods.

Mr Ross mentioned: “We have opened it up to anybody who has been impacted by or doing work in the rescue for tea and coffee. We have had a lot of cancellations for rooms as we have certainly had to advise individuals that we may possibly be evacuated and folks cannot get right here. So rather than leave the rooms empty or resell them at quick observe, we have been offering them to anybody who has been evacuated. We have 3 households in. 1 of them is in excess of from Australia, they are on a residence swap for three months, and they have swapped it for this, so certainly I have let them remain till they get someplace organised. And then the physician came in last evening and asked if we could have the surgery here and of program, it truly is the previous British spirit and the local community comes together.

It is wonderful how the neighborhood spirit adjustments completely and everybody just gets together.”

Weather: Medical professional swaps flooded surgical treatment for Staines hotel suite

weather: Medical doctor swaps flooded surgery for Staines hotel suite

The room was employed as a surgical procedure by Dr John Pittard, 66, after his personal practice was flooded. With a massive double bed and mahogany desk, it made an excellent replacement at brief observe, he said. The area also has panoramic views of the River Thames, the waterway responsible for flooding dozens on homes and firms in the town.

“Because everybody is nonetheless in that denial phase, such as me. A single or two have explained it’s really surreal, here we are in a area that is as glamorous as you can get in an oldie worldy location in the middle of all this strife and problems.

“One particular standard example was a patient who had lived in a residence for thirty or 40 years. She was evacuated by the police a day or so in the past and they have gone back in waders and found there it four feet of water in their residing area and everything destroyed and it is the sentiment of that, some people have discovered this genuinely very distressing.”

Dr Pittard closed his surgical procedure following the vehicle park flooded and drainage stopped working, meaning the toilets could not be utilised. Administration employees from his practice stayed behind to answer phones and then deliver in excess of patients records.

Dr Pittard explained: “The hotel is only 150 metres from the surgery and there is a pharmacy only 200 metres away at the supermarket. So we are reserving men and women in in excess of the mobile phone and bringing the data up in wellington boots keeping it confidential as I never have a laptop right here. It truly is worked reasonably effectively and I am seeing a person about after every single twenty minutes, about half the pace I generally function.”

Jim Ross, the landlord of The Swan, gave Dr Pritchard use of the area – which normal expenses £145 a evening – for free. The pub has also turn out to be a refuge centre for emergency solutions, folks who have been evacuated and volunteers, like members of Surrey 4×4, a group of 4×4 owners who have given up their time to rescue people trapped by the floods.

Mr Ross said: “We have opened it up to anyone who has been impacted by or doing work in the rescue for tea and coffee. We have had a lot of cancellations for rooms as we have certainly had to advise men and women that we may possibly be evacuated and folks can not get here. So rather than leave the rooms empty or resell them at brief observe, we have been providing them to anyone who has been evacuated. We have 3 households in. One of them is over from Australia, they are on a property swap for 3 months, and they have swapped it for this, so clearly I have allow them stay till they get someplace organised. And then the physician came in final evening and asked if we could have the surgical procedure right here and of program, it’s the previous British spirit and the local community comes together.

It’s amazing how the community spirit modifications entirely and everybody just gets together.”

weather: Medical doctor swaps flooded surgery for Staines hotel suite