Lack of care following trauma with Lee Carter | Episode 12 | The Shift Handover

What happens when a security professional experiences a traumatic incident but receives little to no support afterwards? In this episode of The Shift Handover, Dan Sharpe and Marc Smith sit down with experienced security professional Lee Carter for an honest conversation about trauma, mental health and the duty of care towards those working on the frontline. Lee shares the deeply personal experience of finding a vulnerable woman unresponsive after she attempted to take her own life. After performing CPR, retrieving a defibrillator and helping to save her life, Lee returned to work the following day, carrying the psychological impact of what had happened with him. He speaks openly about the months that followed, the lack of formal aftercare from his employer, withdrawing from friends and family, and the moment he finally opened up about what he had been carrying. The conversation also explores a wider issue within the security industry: who looks after the people whose job it is to look after everyone else? Lee explains how concerns around communication between police and frontline security eventually led him to raise the issue with his local MP, contributing to a change in how information is shared when vulnerable individuals are dropped off at his place of work. Dan, Marc and Lee also discuss: Mental health support for frontline security professionals Employer duty of care following traumatic incidents Why security professionals can struggle to speak openly about trauma Communication between police and private security The importance of frontline experience within the security industry Lee’s experience working in security in Japan Why simply talking to someone can make an enormous difference Lee’s message is simple: If you’re struggling after experiencing trauma, talk to someone. Don’t carry it alone. If you work in security and this conversation resonates with you, share your experience in the comments. Conversations like these can help create positive change across the industry. Subscribe to The Shift Handover for honest conversations, real experiences and perspectives from across the UK security industry.