Mental Health Guide for Security Officers: How to Secure Your Inner World

As a security officer, you’ve taken on the noble task of keeping our world safe. You’ve earned your SIA licence, completed your professional security training, and are out there making a difference. 

But here’s a question for you: while you’re busy securing the external world, how safe is your inner world?

Your Mind: The City Within

Imagine for a moment that your mind is a city. If someone were to visit this city, what would they find? Is it a peaceful, well-organised place where visitors feel welcome and secure? Or is it a chaotic, noisy metropolis full of dark alleys and danger?

The truth is, for many of us, our inner city could use some work. And that’s okay – recognising this is the first step toward positive change.

Why Your Inner World Matters

At Get Licensed, our vision is to make the world a safer place. But here’s the crucial bit: that world includes your internal landscape. Here’s why focusing on mental health in security is essential:

• You Can’t Pour from an Empty Cup: If you’re constantly stressed, anxious, or unhappy, how can you effectively keep others safe?
• Your Inner World Reflects Outward: Your mental health affects how you interact with others and respond in high-pressure situations.
• Personal Safety First: Just as you encourage others to prioritise their safety, you need to safeguard your own mental well-being.
• Better Job Performance: A calm, focused mind helps you remain alert and make smarter decisions during critical moments.

Strategies for Securing Your Inner World

So, how do you start securing your inner world? Here are some effective steps to safeguard your mental health as a security professional:

1. Conduct a Mental Security Audit

Take time to reflect on your thoughts and feelings. What’s causing you stress? What makes you feel safe and content?

2. Identify Inner Threats

Try this exercise from Tim Ferriss: Write down your fears and concerns. Once you see them on paper, addressing them becomes much easier. 

3. Develop a Response Plan

For each fear or concern, write down how you’d handle it if it happened. This helps you feel more in control and prepared.

4. Perform Regular Mental Patrols

Just as you’d patrol a physical space, regularly check in with yourself. How are you feeling? What’s occupying your thoughts? 

5. Secure Your Mental Perimeter

Be mindful of what you let into your mental space. Limit exposure to negative influences, whether it’s social media, news, or toxic environments. Instead, surround yourself with positivity. 

6. Practice Mental First Aid

Learn techniques like deep breathing, mindfulness, or meditation to help calm your mind in high-stress situations.

7. Seek Backup When Needed

Don’t hesitate to reach out to friends, family, or professionals if you need support. Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

The Ripple Effect of Inner Peace

Here’s the beautiful thing: when you work on making your inner world a safer place, it naturally impacts the world around you. You may notice that:

• You’re better at de-escalating tense situations
• You’re more alert and focused during your shifts
• You have more patience and empathy for others
• You’re better equipped to handle the challenges of security work

A Simple Challenge for Security Officers

Over the next week, I challenge you to:

1. Spend 10 minutes each day ‘patrolling’ your inner city. What do you observe?
2. Identify one ‘unsafe’ area in your mental landscape and take a small step to secure it.
3. Practice a 2-minute calming technique, such as deep breathing, before starting each shift.

Recommended Reading: The Superpower of Calm: Mental Strength for Security Officers – Learn how cultivating calm can boost mental resilience and performance as a security professional.

Remember: Your Mental Health is Your First Responsibility

As security professionals, you’re trained to prioritise others’ safety. But remember, you can’t effectively protect others if you’re not secure yourself. Your SIA licence gives you the authority to keep the external world safe. Now it’s time to extend that same dedication to your inner world.

By investing in your mental health and making your mind a safer place to be, you’re not just improving your own life – you’re becoming a more effective guardian for others. And that, fellow security officers, is how we truly make our world a safer place – from the inside out.

Take the First Step: Explore our short mental health course online to gain valuable tools and techniques for safeguarding your inner world.

So, are you ready to begin the most important security mission of all?