myAIPM"Tuesday 19th November marks #InternationalMensDay and some of you may be thinking “what’s all that nonsense about?”, or “why do we need a special day to talk about men?
Both fair points, but this event is important as it provides an opportunity to call out a number of important issues that affect all of us as individuals, fathers, sons, uncles, cousins, husbands, partners, colleagues and friends, without stigma or prejudice.
This, to me, is essential if we’re to build the culture and operating environment that is truly inclusive and ‘psychologically safe’, where all of us can come to work as our best authentic selves and be able to thrive and deliver a vital job that protects and adds value to the public.
#InternationalMensDay provides the opportunity to focus on a number of key areas, namely: men being positive role models to others, especially children; men’s physical and mental wellbeing; and confronting situations that lead to male suicide.
These are all areas that I’ve a personal interest in and am very vocal about on social media and my various roles as an adoptive parent, a volunteer Scout leader, an active member of our school PTA, a Mind Bluelight Champion and as a NCA Workforce Support Officer.
Within NCA, we’re gradually getting better at this, as wellbeing and mental health are now prioritised and increasingly covered in lots of different ways. This is excellent and marks a major shift in how we’re confronting these important areas, but I’d like to use this blog to consider the role each of us play as ‘role models’ and consider the impact we have on those around us.
When I started my operational law enforcement career back in the late 80’s, my role models all too often resembled extras from ‘Life on Mars’ in that testosterone and adrenaline were often our drug of choice, which was usually fuelled by liberal quantities of alcohol, esprit d’corps and professional rivalry and more than a dash of elitism."
Jim Clements (2019)