Essex Police Force take on Medicine Ball Challenge in support of Combat Stress
From 16 January to Mental Health Awareness Week in May, Essex Police Force will be taking on the Medicine Ball Challenge in aid of Combat Stress, ABF the Soldier’s charity and the Essex Police Benevolent Fund.
The challenge, created in 2018 by Staff Sergeant Andy Unwin, who has lost friends and a family member to suicide, involves being handcuffed to a 3kg medicine ball for several days, acting as a physical representation of the unseen burden of mental health issues. It’s hoped that the conversations the ball provokes will encourage people to discuss mental health issues and seek help if they need it.
With many police officers also veterans, and with the police and those in the blue light services who may have witnessed or been involved in a traumatic experience which can result in mental health issues, the impact and importance of such a challenge was not lost on the Essex Police Force.
Officers and staff across the county will be taking turns being chained to the ball for three days at a time before passing it on to a colleague, only removing it for operational or safety purposes.
Sergeant Allan Donaldson of Maldon Local Policing Team, brought the challenge to Essex Police and will be one of the first to carry a ball, having spent 25 years in the army before joining the force four years ago. He said: “A lot of people don’t realise that the incidents that police officers deal with - whether it’s accidents, suicides or domestic violence - these images with can have massive effects on the officers for years to come.
“The challenge is a great way for people to open up about mental health. It’s a talking point, breaks down a lot of barriers and shows people that they don’t have to be scared or ashamed of their mental health.”
We are incredibly grateful to Essex Police for their support of the challenge, and veterans mental health. To find out more visit: https://www.essex.police.uk/news/essex/news/news/2023/january/medicine-ball-challenge/.
Or click here to find out more about the Medicine Ball Challenge.
Pictured: Founder Andy Unwin and colleagues from the MPS Regiment joined Sgt Donaldson, North LPA Commander Ch Supt Claire Talbot, Colchester District Commander Ch Insp Colin Cox and representatives of the charities Combat Stress and ABF The Soldiers’ Charity at Colchester Police Station for a ceremonial handover of the two medicine balls that will be touring the force over the next four months.