Supporting Security Officers Mental Health and Suicide Prevention
Security officers spend their working lives noticing what others miss. They watch entrances, listen for trouble, calm difficult situations and step forward when many people step back. That sense of duty is one of the strengths of our industry, but it also means we have a clear responsibility: we must look after the people who spend every shift looking after others.
Working in security can be rewarding, varied and purposeful. It can also be demanding. Frontline officers may face confrontation, verbal abuse, threats, violence, isolation, long hours and incidents that stay with them after a shift ends. They may also be first on the scene when someone else is in distress, including a person experiencing a mental health crisis.
That is why mental health and suicide prevention cannot be treated as occasional topics. They need to be part of everyday safety culture, in the same way as risk assessments, incident reporting and site briefings.
At Unitrust, we were proud to be one of the first companies to sign the Consortium Prevention of Suicide Charter. For us, that commitment means creating a culture where people can talk, know where to turn for support and feel comfortable asking for help. World Suicide Prevention Day, #WSPD, is a reminder for us all to keep looking out for the people who look out for us.
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide or mental health issues, help is available. In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted free of charge on 116 123, day or night.
