This article was published on Mon 18 Nov 2019. At the time of publishing, this article was true and accurate, however, over time this may have changed. Some links may no longer work. If you have any concerns about this please contact us

Money and debt is often seen as a taboo subject but Talk Money Week is here to break the stigma.

According to the recent Police Federation Pay & Morale survey* around one in eight officers are seeking financial support to cover living costs. Talk money week is an ideal time to review your finances and improve your financial wellbeing.

Worrying about money can negatively affect your mental health and for those people experiencing mental health problems it makes it harder to manage their finances.  Problem debt can also be linked to suicide.

According to Money and Mental Health Policy Institute over 420,000 people in problem debt consider taking their own life in England every year, while more than 100,000 people in debt actually attempt suicide annually.**

It’s important to start talking about money worries before your situation gets worse.  Talking about money will give you the confidence to get help and find out who can best advise you on any problems.  It can give you a great sense of relief to share your problems, so you’re not facing them alone.  If you don’t feel ready to talk to someone, write done what you are going through and share it with somebody you can trust.  It’s important to seek professional advice as soon as possible and not wait until it’s more difficult to find a solution.

Police Mutual are here to help. We want to break down the stigma surrounding debt and get people talking about money.

We’ve teamed up with PayPlan, one of the UK’s leading free debt advice providers, who offer free and confidential advice to anyone in serious financial difficulties.***

They’re able to advise you on a range of debt solutions suited to your individual circumstances, helping to protect you and your family with a sustainable way to manage your debt.

Get free and confidential help to combat your debt, call PayPlan on 0800 197 8433.  If you don’t want to talk on the phone, it is also possible to email them.

Below are some tips on how to improve your financial wellbeing

• Use our budget calculator here to help you manage your money. Set yourself a daily spend limit based on how much disposable cash you have each month
• Set up a separate bill account and transfer an amount each month to cover the cost of all your household bills
• Check your bank balance each week so there are no nasty surprises. Consider using an app so you can see all your accounts in one place
• Switch your current account – banks will often pay you to switch accounts use the link here for more information
• Look at your general insurance, using the link here for Police Mutual car insurance and here for Police Mutual home insurance
• Check your utility bills, for more information use the link here
• Review your mortgage – for more information on the Police Mutual mortgage advice service click here
• Check your credit score using one of the various companies available online including, Experian, Equifax or CallCredit

Police Mutual Services

Police Mutual offer a range of wellbeing support services, for more details check out the For You pages on our website at www.policemutual.co.uk

The Care Line Service provided by Health Assured can offer advice and information at the end of a phone, helping with a range of concerns including emotional support.  To talk to someone please call 0800 028 1708 or take a look at the e-portal:

Health & Wellbeing e-portal
https://healthassuredeap.co.uk/
Username: policemutual
Password: careline

The (not so) small print

* Police Federation’s annual Pay & Morale survey results published in November 2019

** Money and Health Policy Institute report ‘a silent killer’ Published December 2018

*** PayPlan is a trading name of Totemic Limited. Totemic Limited is a limited company registered in England, Company Number: 2789854. Registered Office: Kempton House, Dysart Road, PO Box 9562, Grantham, NG31 0EA. Totemic Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Financial Conduct Authority Number: 681263.

Police Mutual is a trading name of Police Mutual Assurance Society Limited (PMAS), PMGI Limited (PMGI) and Mortgage Excellence Plc (MEX).  PMAS is an incorporated friendly society authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority. PMGI and MEX are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. All Police Mutual companies are registered in England and Wales.  PMGI, register no. 1073408; MEX, register no. 03527577. Registered office: Alexandra House, Queen Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 6QS.

Want to learn more? Access our wellbeing hub here.

This article was published on Mon 04 Nov 2019. At the time of publishing, this article was true and accurate, however, over time this may have changed. Some links may no longer work. If you have any concerns about this please contact us

We all know what it’s like to feel stressed – being under pressure is a normal part of life. But becoming overwhelmed by stress can lead to mental health problems or make existing problems worse.

Stress isn’t a mental health condition, but it can cause a mental health problem, like anxiety or depression or it can cause an existing one to get worse.

Stress can also affect you physically, it can cause headaches, tiredness or stomach problems.

National Stress Awareness Day is a great opportunity to take a moment to think about your own wellbeing and find out more on how to manage stress.

What you can do to help with stress

There are various steps you can take to cope with being under pressure, remember, different things work for different people.

• Identify your triggers and take control – working out what triggers your stress can help you anticipate when you may feel stressed and what you could do about it in advance.
• Organise your time – making some adjustments to the way you organise your time can help you feel more in control and able to handle the pressure you are feeling.
• Be active – exercise can help clear your head and then let you deal with your problems more calmly. Go outside to exercise, as fresh air and spending time in nature can really help.
• Talk to other people – friends, family & colleagues can help support you through the stress you are feeling, you may even have a laugh and start to relax. You may also want to consider talking to a professional counsellor.
• Do something you enjoy – spending time doing something you enjoy will take your mind off how you are feeling. Everyone needs to take time for themselves, it can be as simple as having a bath or reading a book.
• Avoid unhealthy ways to cope – many people use alcohol, smoking, chocolate and gambling to try and relieve the stress they are feeling, none of these things will help in the long term, use healthy coping strategies like going for a run, listening to music or walking the dog.
• Challenge yourself – learning new skills and setting yourself new goals will help build your confidence and make you feel good about yourself.
• Help others – people who volunteer in the community or for a worthwhile cause tend to be more resilient.
• Try to be positive – think of all the things you are grateful for, write down or say out loud 3 things that went well each day.
• Address some of the causes – where possible improve some of the issues that are putting pressure on you.
• Accept the thing you can’t change – it’s not easy, but accepting that there are some things happening to you that you can’t do anything about will help you focus your time and energy elsewhere.

Worrying about money can be extremely stressful and may lead to mental health conditions.

Police Mutual are here to help. We want to break down the stigma surrounding debt and get people talking about money.

We’ve teamed up with PayPlan, one of the UK’s leading free debt advice providers, who offer free and confidential advice to anyone in serious financial difficulties.

They’re able to advise you on a range of debt solutions suited to your individual circumstances, helping to protect you and your family with a sustainable way to manage your debt.

Get free and confidential help to combat your debt, call PayPlan on 0800 197 8433

Police Mutual Services

Police Mutual offer a range of wellbeing support services, for more details check out the For You pages on our website at www.policemutual.co.uk

The Care Line Service provided by Health Assured can offer advice and information at the end of a phone, helping with a range of concerns including emotional support. To talk to someone please call 0800 028 1708 or take a look at the e-portal –

Health & Wellbeing e-portal
https://healthassuredeap.co.uk/
Username: policemutual
Password: careline

The (not so) small print

Police Mutual Assurance Society Limited, trading as Police Mutual, is an incorporated friendly society. Registered office: Alexandra House, Queen Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 6QS. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.

PayPlan is a trading name of Totemic Limited. Totemic Limited is a limited company registered in England, Company Number: 2789854. Registered Office: Kempton House, Dysart Road, PO Box 9562, Grantham, NG31 0EA. Totemic Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Financial Conduct Authority Number: 681263.

Want to learn more? Access our wellbeing hub here.

This article was published on Thur 10 Oct 2019. At the time of publishing, this article was true and accurate, however, over time this may have changed. Some links may no longer work. If you have any concerns about this please contact us

Mental health problems can affect anyone, any day of the year, but as today is mental health awareness day, it is a great day to look after your own wellbeing and show support to others.

Mental health describes how you are feeling and how well you can cope with day to day life. Taking care of your mental health is as important as taking care of your physical health.  Mental health problems affect around 1 in 4 people*.

How to take care of your mental health

• Talk about your feelings – talking can help you take charge of your wellbeing
• Keep active – regular exercise can boost your self-esteem, can help you concentrate, sleep and overall feel better
• Eat well – a diet that is good for your physical health is also good for your mental health
• Drink sensibly – drinking alcohol is not a good way to manage difficult feelings
• Keep in touch – it’s good for you to catch up with friends and family face to face or over the phone
• Ask for help – its ok not to be ok, so ask for help if you are struggling
• Take a break – a change of scenery or pace is good for you
• Do something you’re good at – enjoying yourself can help beat stress
• Accept who you are – accept your uniqueness, don’t wish you were someone else
• Care for others – supporting others uplifts you as well as them

Worrying about money can negatively affect your mental health and for those people experiencing mental health problems it makes it harder to manage their finances. Problem debt can also be linked to suicide.

According to Money and Mental Health Policy Institute, over 420,000 people in problem debt consider taking their own life in England every year, while more than 100,000 people in debt actually attempt suicide annually**.

Police Mutual are here to help. We want to break down the stigma surrounding debt and get people talking about money.

We’ve teamed up with PayPlan, one of the UK’s leading free debt advice providers, who offer free and confidential advice to anyone in serious financial difficulties.

They’re able to advise you on a range of debt solutions suited to your individual circumstances, helping to protect you and your family with a sustainable way to manage your debt.

Get free and confidential help to combat your debt, call PayPlan on 0800 197 8433

Police Mutual Care Line Service provided by Health Assured can offer advice and information at the end of a phone, helping with a range of concerns. To talk to someone please call 0800 028 1708 or take a look at the e-portal –

Health & Wellbeing e-portal
https://healthassuredeap.co.uk/
Username: policemutual
Password: careline

Police Mutual offer a range of wellbeing support services, for more details check out the For You pages on our website www.policemutual.co.uk

All of our Relationship Managers and Financial Wellbeing Consultants are trained Mental Health First Aiders

*According to Mental Health First Aid Organisation
**Money and Health Policy Institute report ‘a silent killer’ Published December 2018

Police Mutual Assurance Society Limited, trading as Police Mutual is an incorporated friendly society Registered office: Alexandra House, Queen Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 6QS. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority.

Want to learn more? Access our wellbeing hub here.

This article was published on Tue 17 Sep 2019. At the time of publishing, this article was true and accurate, however, over time this may have changed. Some links may no longer work. If you have any concerns about this please contact us

Most healthy adults need between 7 to 9 hours of good quality sleep per night to function at your best

We spend about a third of our lives asleep. Sleep is essential – It is as important to our bodies as eating, drinking and breathing, and is vital for maintaining good mental and physical health. Sleeping helps us to recover from mental as well as physical exertion.

Sleep and health are strongly related – poor sleep can increase the risk of having poor health, and poor health can make it harder to sleep.  Sleep disturbances can be one of the first signs of distress.

Common mental health problems like anxiety and depression can often underpin sleep problems.

According to The Sleep Council organisation shift work can be harmful to sleep

Poor Sleep or lack of sleep can lead to –

• Mood changes
• High levels of Stress
• High levels of anger
• A higher tendency to take drugs and drink alcohol

How to look after yourself when working nights

• Manage your time correctly
• Eat correctly
• Prepare yourself to be in the best condition possible for your night shift

There are four simple things to consider to help you with a period of poor sleep:

• Health – It’s important to address any mental and physical health worries that might keep you awake.
• Environment – Where you sleep is important. Watching TV, playing with phones or eating in bed can all affect the quality of our sleep. Temperature, noise levels and light all play a part in determining our sleep.
• Attitude – In the time before we go to bed, we should try and wind down, be less stimulated, and relax. Try relaxation techniques, a warm bath or mindfulness practice.
• Lifestyle – Stimulants like caffeine can make it harder to sleep, and a heavy or sugary meal close to bedtime can make sleep uncomfortable and alcohol can reduce the quality of sleep.

Top 10 reasons to get a good night’s sleep

• Sleep helps reduce stress
• Sleep can improve your memory
• Sleep can lower your blood pressure
• Sleep can help you maintain your weight
• Sleep puts you in a better mood
• Sleep could reduce your chances of diabetes
• Sleep helps keep your heart healthy
• Sleep can be a painkiller
• Sleep can make you smarter

Risks of poor sleep

• Memory issues
• Mood changes
• Trouble with thinking and concentration
• Accidents – car or in the home
• Weakened immunity
• High blood pressure
• Risk of diabetes
• Weight gain
• Risk of heart disease
• Poor balance

What to do if you can’t sleep

• Try mindfulness sleep here
• Use the Headspace App here
• Have a look at MindFit Cop on the Oscar Kilo website here
• Watch this Webinar here
• Try this 4 week plan here
• Talk to your line manager
• Talk to your EAP provider

Police Mutual offer a range of wellbeing support services, for more details check out the For You pages on our website www.policemutual.co.uk

Police Mutual Assurance Society Limited, trading as Police Mutual is an incorporated friendly society Registered office: Alexandra House, Queen Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 6QS. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority.

Want to learn more? Access our wellbeing hub here.

This article was published on Tue 10 Sep 2019. At the time of publishing, this article was true and accurate, however, over time this may have changed. Some links may no longer work. If you have any concerns about this please contact us

Suicide is preventable, it’s not inevitable

High financial stress and mental health are intrinsically linked.

Worrying about money negatively affects people’s mental health and for those people experiencing mental health problems it makes it harder to manage their finances.

It can become a vicious cycle. Research has shown that money worries don’t just affect your personal life, they can also affect your family life, health and work.

According to a survey of 5,500 people carried out by the Money and Mental Health Organisation*

• 46% of people in problem debt also have a mental health problem.
• 86% of people with experience of mental health problems said that their financial situation had made their mental health problems worse.
• Almost one in five people with mental health problems are in problem debt.
• People experiencing mental health problems are three and a half times more likely to be in problem debt than people without mental health problems.
• 72% said that their mental health problems had made their financial situation worse

Many people who are experiencing high financial stress feel unable to talk openly about their situation due to feelings of shame or guilt or fears that it may impact their career.

Problem debt can also be linked to suicide.

According to Money and Mental Health Policy Institute

Over 420,000 people in problem debt considered taking their own life in England last year, while more than 100,000 people in debt actually attempt suicide annually**.

Individuals with multiple debt problems are at a ‘significantly high risk of suicide’ than those with just one problem debt.

Suicide is the biggest killer of men under 49.

Police Mutual are here to help. Our mission is to break down the stigma surrounding debt and get people talking about money.

We’ve teamed up with PayPlan, one of the UK’s leading free debt advice providers, who offer free and confidential advice to anyone in serious financial difficulties.

They’re able to advise you on a range of debt solutions suited to your individual circumstances, helping to protect you and your family with a sustainable way to manage your debt.

Get free and confidential help to combat your debt, call PayPlan on 0800 197

All of our Relationship Managers and Financial Wellbeing Consultants are trained Mental Health First Aiders

Police Mutual Care Line Service provided by Health Assured can offer advice and information at the end of a phone, helping with a range of concerns. To talk to someone please call 0800 028 1708 or take a look at the e-portal –

Health & Wellbeing e-portal

https://healthassuredeap.co.uk/

Username: policemutual
Password: careline

Police Mutual offer a range of wellbeing support services, for more details check out the For You pages on our website www.policemutual.co.uk

* Money and Health Policy Institute report ‘Debt and Mental Health’ Published March 2019

** Money and Health Policy Institute report ‘a silent killer’ Published December 2018

Police Mutual Assurance Society Limited, trading as Police Mutual is an incorporated friendly society Registered office: Alexandra House, Queen Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 6QS. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority.

Want to learn more? Access our wellbeing hub here.