Today is World Suicide Prevention Day
A powerful and deeply moving video has been released by North Yorkshire Police Federation, urging officers to break the silence around mental health and suicide.
Between 2011 and 2021, 210 police officers died by suicide in England and Wales*. That’s an average of 19 officers dying by suicide every year.
In England, there were 155 male officers and 26 female officers of the rank of sergeant and below, and 15 senior male officers who died by suicide in that period. In Wales, 13 male and two female officers ranked sergeant and below, and one senior male police officer died by suicide.
In a brave and emotional film, police officers share their personal experiences with suicide, encouraging others to speak out and seek support. Released in honour of this year’s World Suicide Prevention Day (10 September), the video is a heartfelt plea to break down the barriers that prevent officers from addressing their mental health struggles.
Secretary of North Yorkshire Police Federation Helen Scholefield, who is also the branch’s mental health and welfare lead, was instrumental in creating the video, courageously sharing her battle with depression.
She said: “In North Yorkshire, in the past five or six years, we’ve lost a number of officers, particularly male officers, to suicide, and I wanted to try to do something about it. It’s somewhere I have been myself, and it’s something I feel very strongly about.
“There is still a stigma around mental health, particularly in policing. We think that because we are police officers, we are strong people who go and rescue someone else, that we don’t need help, that we get our chin up, and that we crack on with our jobs.
“But that’s not necessarily the case. The truth is, mental health issues can strike anyone – even us, as police officers.”
The video, which has been produced by XPR Communications Ltd, showcases the stories of several officers who are highly respected and who have boldly chosen to speak out.
“By sharing their struggles, they’re showing that anyone can be affected,” continued Helen, adding: “I’m incredibly proud of the team for opening up so candidly. It’s by no means an easy thing for us to do, but one of the ways we are going to reduce the number of suicides is by talking about it.
“The key to reducing the numbers of suicides is by creating safe environments and by saying it is okay to talk.”
Among those featured is Sergeant Elaine Malcolm, a Federation member who opens up about losing her father to suicide when she was just 12 years old.
Now, Elaine leads the Darlington group of Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS), a national charity offering support to those grieving such a loss.
Reflecting on her father’s death, Elaine said: “I often think about what things would have been like now if my dad was still alive, and what would be different if someone had asked if he was okay and checked on him.
She ends by urging everyone to take action: “Ask people if they’re okay. Ask your friends, ask your family, ask them twice, ask them four times if it’s going to prevent them from being in the same boat as my family.”
The film also features the powerful story of North Yorkshire Police Federation rep Janine Mitchell, who lost her brother Jamie to suicide 21 years ago when he was 18.
“It devastated me and my entire family,” said Janine. “It’s something I still find really difficult to talk about, but we must have those conversations and start talking about it.”
Fed rep Janine Mitchell (left) and her brother Jamie (right)
Federation member PC Pierre Olesqui talks about losing his best friend, Mick ‘Aky’ Atkinson to suicide in 2018.
“I didn’t pick up on the signs,” Pierre said. “I didn’t ask him the questions. I kick myself every day in regard to it.”
PC Pierre Olesqui (left) and Mick ‘Aky’ Atkinson (right)
The film finishes with Federation representative Nev Chambers telling his personal story of how his life was ‘spiralling out of control’ before a life-changing incident while on a walk.
“One particular day I had gone for a walk,” he said. “Sat on a bench, an old lady was sat at the side of me talking to me and her dog jumped on my knee.
“It started licking my face and for some reason, I just burst into tears. It was like someone had just pulled a plug on all my emotions and I couldn’t stop crying.
“Looking back, had it not been for that dog licking my face, as stupid as that sounds, and that lady sitting there talking to me, I think I wouldn’t be here now. In fact I know I wouldn’t be here now.”
Fed rep Nev Chambers
World Suicide Prevention Day (Tuesday 10 September)
World Suicide Prevention Day is an awareness day always observed on 10 September every year, in order to provide worldwide commitment and action to prevent suicides, with various activities around the world since 2003.
According to the latest figures from Samaritans:
- 5284 suicides were registered in England in 2022. This is 65 more than in 2021.
- The overall suicide rate was 10.5 per 100,000, which is the same as the previous year.
- The male suicide rate was 16.1 per 100,000, compared to a female suicide rate of 5.3 per 100,000.
- Males aged 50-54 were found to have the highest suicide rate (23.1 per 100,000).
Don’t suffer in silence, reach out and talk to someone today. As a member of the Benevolent Fund you can get support with your mental health through our online counselling sessions.
Useful links
World Health Organisation – Changing the narrative on suicide
