Nottinghamshire Police inspector opens up on mental health battle

Today (February 6) is ‘Time to Talk’ day, and Inspector Nolan, of Nottinghamshire Police, is sharing his story to show others that they are not alone.

Whether it’s police officers or members of the public, he believes that everyone has their own struggles and that it’s important to talk.

“If you don’t talk to people, they can’t read your mind,” Inspector Nolan said. “Our officers are sorting out people’s lives but they also have their own challenges.”

Inspector Nolan felt that the police was his calling for a personal reason and although this gave him empathy and the drive to help others, he found that other people’s problems brought up difficult emotions of his own.

The 47-year-old said: “Growing up, I had a difficult childhood.

“I thought it was normal, but I noticed that my friend’s lives were a lot calmer and less fearful than mine was. I joined the police to stop other children from going through the trauma that I had gone through.”

He remembers one incident in particular which was a turning point for his mental health.

“In 1997, I dealt with a case where a young boy was in a situation similar to what I had gone through”, he said.

“I thought ‘this is exactly why I’m here.’ But afterwards it sent me into a crash – so many memories I had hidden away started to come out.

“My behaviour at work was changing, I was less patient, less happy and I was drinking more. I’m always the loudest person in the room and my sergeant noticed something was wrong.

“That’s when I first had counselling through the police.”

Inspector Nolan understands why men in particular might find it more difficult to speak out. “As men we tend to be very quiet and just get on with it, because it’s seen as a strength to be able to control our emotions.

“It’s getting better – I think we’re talking more. I never would have spoken about this ten years ago. In the police we’ve come to a point now where we care so much for each other that those walls are being knocked down.”

There is support for police officers who have dealt with difficult incidents, but Inspector Nolan feels it is also important to create a caring workplace where people feel able to be open.

Although police work presents specific challenges, Insp Nolan has also struggled with personal issues such as marriage breakdown which have had an impact on his mental health.

“Whether you’re a police officer or not, the help is there”, he said. “I’m certain that with this change in culture, more and more people will seek support to help them through the chaos that life sometimes throws at us.”