ASIS UK has announced it is to partner with the charity PTSD Resolution to access the national network of therapists for the treatment of trauma for our members.

ASIS International is the largest organisation for security professionals, with more than 38,000 members worldwide including 750 in the UK.

ASIS UK is the first security membership organisation, probably in the world, to offer trauma treatment as a member service through a preferred supplier. This means that any member of ASIS UK who feels that they might be suffering from trauma, however caused, can access the PTSD Resolution network of some 200 therapists nationally, at a preferential fee rate. This also applies to family members.

A major benefit is that an appointment for therapy can usually be arranged in a matter of days. Also, the service is confidential and no referral is needed from a GP.

ASIS UK has worked with the charity for several years now in support of its primary aim, which is to provide help to UK forces’ veterans and reservists who may be experiencing the residual effects of military trauma. The charity has helped many veterans – some of whom work in the security industry – in a service that is both compassionate and effective.

There are particular issues of mental health for the security sector community, not only because of the number of veterans in its ranks, but also because of what staff may see or hear or otherwise experience during the course of their work. With the current level of terrorist threat that there is an ever-present risk of being exposed to trauma, at first hand or through the account of staff or colleagues.

“All responsible organisations of any size now have contingency plans to deal with a terrorist attack or other security threat or damage. It is universally recognised as a sensible and logical precaution. But too few organisations have any kind of backup plan for how to deal with the trauma that staff might experience from any of these or other circumstances in the course of their employment,” says ASIS UK.

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