News for the community, by the community.
The initiative is led by Mike Murray, Armed Forces Champion for East London DWP, Charles Ryan, Armed forces champion for Havering council/NHS and Mental Health charity Mind and its new veterans support programme.
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Very rarely do others stop and think-‘I wonder how many endless traumatic incidents has this officer witnessed and yet here they are answering another call for help’.
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The level of PTSD among UK police officers has reached alarming levels — and too many are still suffering in silence.
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Fit4Life Gym in Romford is more than just a fitness centre — it’s a powerful community hub committed to supporting both physical and mental health. Located on South Street, Fit4Life is proud to serve as a specialist First Responders Zone, offering a range of services that go far beyond the treadmill.
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In Havering alone, recent figures show over 4,300 people are currently waiting for mental health support via NHS Talking Therapies. Across London, the number is far worse—with more than 125,000 people on waiting lists, many of whom are in crisis and deteriorating fast.
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They save lives. But who’s saving theirs? Behind every siren, there’s a human being carrying the weight of trauma — and the cracks are starting to show.
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Am I ok? Is question that often lingers in the minds of emergency service workers as they leave the scene of another fatality. Police officers called to discover a body after a collision, firefighters cutting victims from wreckage — these moments are part of their job. What many might say they’re paid to do.
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Operation Soteria was launched as a national strategy to improve how police forces in England and Wales respond to rape and serious sexual offences (RASSO). Set against a backdrop of declining rape prosecution rates and widespread criticism of how survivors are treated by the criminal justice system, the initiative was designed to transform investigative practices and rebuild trust.
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“The system has failed us. We’re being judged by people who couldn’t do a single shift in our shoes.”
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One year ago, we embarked on this journey with a simple, yet vital mission: to support our brave emergency service personnel and veterans who are battling the devastating effects of PTSD.’
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We are frequently reminded on the internet to tick boxes that show ‘we are not robots’. Yet we fail to acknowledge this with police officers and expect them to deal with horrendous traumatic incidents without it leaving any impact on them.
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In a world where age is often seen as a barrier, Weininger Irwin and his inspiring initiative, Cool Rowings are proving that the years behind us are no match for the spirit within us.
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On Monday 20 January The Mercury was filled with fun, dancing and laughter as Havering community groups hosted by The Mercury’s Breakfast Club and Redbridge, Barking and Havering Age UK Di’s Diamonds came together to chat, enjoy a hot drink, cake and a dance, they celebrated by coming together as they enjoyed songs and music from local artist Joel aka @grimm_dreamurr
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Police officers and firefighters worked together to help defuse a potentially difficult situation where a male suffering with his mental health had made numerous threats.
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The Havering Emotional Support Team (HEST) supports children and young people who may be experiencing mild to moderate emotional wellbeing difficulties in educational settings as part of the Whole School Approach.
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Yes, police officers have received training on mental health, but it is important to state that they are not mental health specialists. As much training as they do receive, ultimately they are police officers and not mental health specialists.
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Havering nutritionist and Health Champion Sharon Atkins held a special coffee morning at Rainham library to raise funds for mental health charities on Wednesday 9 October.
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A total of 50 claims were lodged against North East London Foundation Trust (NELFT) between April 2019 and April 2024.
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“Police leaders do not go out on the front line like our response officers so do not see exactly what they are faced with and the reality is that they do not even begin to understand why these officers now, do not want to go out on our streets anymore or the trauma so many are suffering.”
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Paint wellbeing is a creative, therapeutic programme, using painting to promote mental health and wellbeing. Their exhibition ‘Voice’ was launched on Saturday 20th July, attended by some the artists involved and the Mayor of Havering.
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