Common Concerns

Depression Depression can affect anyone. It can vary from mild to severe and can have a profound impact, affecting every aspect of the individual, their relationships, family and work life. Depression is a very common condition which affects 1 in 10 people at any one time, 450,000 people in Ireland alone. Any one of us, irrespective of age, gender or background can be affected. Recovery is possible, early recognition and ongoing support are key to a positive outcome.

Compassion Fatigue Garda personnel, especially those on the frontline, routinely encounter critical incidents and may interact with people who have suffered violence, abuse, injuries and even fatalities. Compassion fatigue is sometimes described as "the cost of caring". It develops because you are empathetic to those you are helping. But it can be overwhelming to be exposed to traumatic events and if not addressed, you could begin to feel a numbness or find that you are unable to act decisively and cope with work.

Bereavement is something we all experience but the nature of the bereavement will profoundly influence our experience. If death is sudden or unexpected, it can be shocking and hard to understand or accept. When a family member or friend dies, we can feel overwhelmed with grief and the loss can seem unbearable. There is no right or wrong way to grieve, and our reactions will depend on many variables including how close we were to the person who died, the circumstances of their death and the support network we have around us.

Anxiety is a common feeling that most of us experience at some point. It can be a normal response to many stressful situations. Anxiety is a feeling of unease, such as worry or fear. Anxious feelings can cover a broad spectrum - ranging from mild concern about something to feeling completely debilitated and defeated.

Anger can be caused by feeling threatened or attacked, frustrated or powerless. It can also happen due to feeling that we are being treated unfairly and people are not respecting our feelings. We might also experience anger in response to an unmet need. Sometimes anger is the result of unrealistic standards or expectations.

Addiction can take many forms including drugs, alcohol and gambling....