Two Flint House Ambassadors spoke to Naga Munchetty on BBC Radio 5 Live this week about their personal experiences of trauma and how Flint House helps police officers with mental health struggles.
Metropolitan Police PC Keith Malda was one of the first officers to arrive on the scene of the 2017 Westminster Bridge attacks, and then just months later he was called to the Borough Market attacks. The Royal Humane Society later awarded him the Bronze Medal and Second Award clasp for his bravery at both incidents.
Keith said that he had managed to cope after such traumatic incidents by talking about it to colleagues and getting help at Flint House.
He told Naga: “A typical bloke thing would be: ‘I mustn’t discuss emotion’. I’m not like that. I’m generally happy to talk and I was very lucky that, having been at the attacks with lots of my colleagues… I think that talking helped. But what really helped me was Flint House, a Charity - one of the police rehabilitation centres. They’re wonderful.
“It’s funded by donations. If there are people out there who are thinking about putting their money towards a good cause, Flint House is incredible.
“They helped me process [what happened]. I went to Flint House because I was convinced I was going to get PTSD and waiting for my force to give me some counselling was a long wait. And just being on that residential programme with other police officers from around the country, sharing experiences, I think that really helped me process everything. I will forever be grateful to Flint House and everyone who donates to Flint House.”
Also speaking on Radio 5 Live was retired Cambridgeshire Police officer Paul Roe, who was diagnosed with PTSD after attending four major train crashes in his previous role with the British Transport Police.
He now takes his wellbeing dog, Holly, around police stations as part of a ‘Pause for Paws’ programme to support officers who are struggling with their mental health. He also regularly brings Holly to Flint House so that patients can have a cuddle with the golden labrador.
Paul said: “I talk a lot about my PTSD and we do a lot at Flint House, where officers go when they’ve been broken, either physically or they need some [help with] wellbeing as well.”
He said that police officers were getting better at speaking up about mental health issues, but more needed to be done to support those who were suffering.
He said: “There is a lot, lot more to do in the police service to turn the tide, to make it acceptable. What is so essential when officers are going to these traumatic incidents, is having the ability to debrief afterwards. Sometimes that is what’s lacking. When you get the adrenaline drop and you’re going home alone to a dark bedroom, then you start getting intrusive thoughts, because you’ve not had time to have a debrief. That’s something I get involved with, with Holly.”