Dr Tina Cartwright speaks at event addressing stigma around mental health in security industry

The event, that took place on World Mental Health Day, was a follow up to the Corps’ Mental Health – Security’s Invisible Enemy event in May, which aimed to encourage conversations and openness around mental health. During the recent event, experts in the field spoke about understanding mental health conditions that may be affecting colleagues, how to offer workplace services to help mental wellbeing and highlighted the progress that has been made so far in the industry and what is still left to do. 

The speakers came from a variety of mental health organisations and charities including Thrive Mental Wellbeing and Combat Stress, the UK’s leading charity for veterans’ mental health. Dr Tina Cartwright, Director of Westminster Centre for Psychological Sciences, was among the speakers and gave a presentation on the impact of mental health on society and addressed the stigma around mental health in the security sector. She discussed the importance of workplace interventions to support the prevention of mental health risks and promote mental health at work. She looked at the evidence base for yoga-based interventions for supporting physical and mental health, drawing on examples from veteran and working populations. She also delved into the impact and management of menopause in the workplace.

About the event Dr Cartwright said: “It was such an honour to be invited to this event on World Mental Health Day to talk about the research we are doing at Westminster to support mental health and wellbeing. It is excellent to see that security industry leaders are taking action to normalise and increase support for mental health. It was particularly inspiring to listen to the lived experiences of veteran and security professional, Guy Cholerton, and hear how the charity Combat Stress had supported his journey to recovery.”

Find out more about counselling and mental health services at Westminster.