Mental health charity PTSD Resolution and ASIS UK, the UK chapter of the world’s largest association for security management professionals, have announced a partnership for 2024 to raise awareness of the mental health issues faced by many security professionals across the UK.
This collaboration comes after a 2020 study by the University of Portsmouth, which found that 40% of the 750 UK security officers surveyed exhibited symptoms aligned to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The study also revealed that over 64% reported experiencing verbal abuse at least once a month, while 46% had been subjected to physical attacks, beatings, or muggings during their careers.
In light of these alarming statistics, ASIS UK has appointed PTSD Resolution as its charity of the year for 2024. The partnership will see the two organizations work together to raise awareness and provide support for the mental health of security staff in the UK.
PTSD Resolution, a charity founded in 2009, provides free mental health support for armed forces’ veterans, reservists, and their families. The charity is accredited by the Royal College of Psychiatrists to the Quality Network for Veterans Mental Health Services (QNVMHS) and has had over 4,000 referrals to date. Their therapy sessions have an average success rate of only seven sessions, showing the effectiveness of their approach.
Patrick Rea, campaign director of PTSD Resolution, states, “As a charity, we are increasingly engaged with the security industry because of the number of veterans that take up a career in the sector. There can sometimes be residual mental health issues from trauma experienced during military service, or new problems in current security roles, which is where we can help.”
This partnership follows a successful collaboration between PTSD Resolution and ASIS UK since 2012. The charity will now provide training and support for employers, line managers, and other personnel to better identify and respond to mental health issues within the security sector. This will also make therapy available for ASIS UK’s 800-plus members.
Letitia Emeana, Chairwoman of ASIS UK’s Board of Directors, said, “The expertise offered by PTSD Resolution will provide great value to our members. Through this partnership, we hope to not only directly support those in need, but also drive a culture shift – both across the security sector and more widely – encouraging staff at all levels to be more open about their mental health without fear of stigma.”
Both organizations emphasized that while security roles come with inevitable stresses, a high incidence of PTSD and trauma-related issues should never be an accepted norm. This partnership signifies a zero-tolerance approach to the lack of mental health provision, aiming to build psychologically safer, supportive, and resilient security teams across the country.
PTSD Resolution, Charity No. 1202649, provides therapy for the mental welfare of Forces’ Veterans, Reservists, and their families. Treatment is free, effective, and delivered promptly and locally through a network of 200 therapists nationwide, and also by phone and the internet. The charity can also work with organizations to help the mental welfare of their non-veteran staff, by arrangement.
Founded in 2009, the charity is accredited by the Royal College of Psychiatrists to the Quality Network for Veterans Mental Health Services (QNVMHS). It has had over 4,000 referrals to date and delivers therapy in an average of seven sessions, where the client and therapist agree that no further therapy is required.
The charity is one of the only organizations to provide therapy to veterans suffering from addiction issues or who are in prison – as well as to family members, including partners and children, who may experience the symptoms of trauma from living with a traumatized veteran.
PTSD Resolution has a uniquely “lean” operation, with no salaried staff or assets – funds are used to deliver therapy and for essential research and public information.
For more information about PTSD Resolution and their services, please visit their website at www.PTSDresolution.org.
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