Lincolnshire police officer discusses mental health in The Listening Walk documentary
PC Martin Green spoke to photographer and multimedia producer Fraser McGruer as part of The Listening Walk project.
A Lincolnshire police officer has spoken about his own mental health as part of an audio documentary exploring wellbeing in rural communities.
Photographer and multimedia producer Fraser McGruer is creating a project called The Listening Walk, which explores mental health in rural Lincolnshire.
As part of the documentary, Fraser is walking between towns and wellbeing hubs, recording conversations with people he meets along the way.
Those conversations include volunteers, carers and people living with mental health challenges.
During the walk, Fraser met PC Martin Green, who was checking woodland areas where stolen plant machinery had previously been found.
The officer spoke to Fraser about policing, PTSD and how he manages difficult experiences.
PC Green said: “We talked for a good half hour. We spoke about all sort of things police wise but then he got onto the PTSD side of things.
“I deal with things differently, I rant and cry and talk, I get through things that way. It’s the ex-serviceman in me I suppose.”
The first six-minute episode, called A Policeman in the Field, is available to listen to as part of The Listening Walk.
Police say daily life can be tough for officers and staff, who can be exposed to stress, trauma and high-pressure situations.
They say the impact of that work can be felt suddenly after a particular incident, or build up over time and become overwhelming.
The force has a Health & Care team to support the health and wellbeing of officers and staff.
Further information and support is also available through Mental Health & Learning Disability Services at LPFT and the Lincolnshire Rural Network.