90% of 'Blue Light' workers' wellbeing negatively impacted, says Leicestershire Charity

Armed forces members, paramedics and other 'blue light' workers in the region could be suffering poor mental health due to their job, according to a new charity.

The Blue Light Foundation, which launched in Leicestershire this week, is supporting some of our most important workers - those who spend their time looking after others.

The charity's figures show 90% of those in the 'blue light' sector report their job negatively impacts their wellbeing, while 62% have considered leaving work because of it.

Research also showed less than half (46%) of respondents felt that they could leave the challenges of work ‘at the door’ when they ended their shift.

General manager Naomi Adie lives with a mental and physical injury after she was medically discharged from the RAF nearly ten years ago:

'I really struggled to adapt to life after service, I'm a wheelchair user now so it's really important for me to do what's right for our community and to listen to their needs.'

'We immediately think about the NHS, the emergency services, but the blue light community is much bigger - we think about independent life boats, blood bikes, mountain and cave rescuers - all those people that give their time when we need them the most.'

'Generally blue light workers want to give and keep giving, and often at detriment to their own health and wellbeing. We're hear to say you actually do need to look after yourself before you look after everybody else.'

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