After a tough 12 months, Susan Gibson, whose father died on duty in 1982, has been helped and supported by a brand new well-being application offered as part of Care of Police Survivors services.
Thanks to COPS supporters and fundraisers, the new service launched in January 2024 offers 24/7 Total Mental Health self-guided resources, coaching techniques and expert clinical support all in one application. Susan, who kindly offered to give her views and experiences of using the new service, said:
“I was only 22 when I lost my father, and being part of COPS has been a real help. Having attended the first-ever survivors weekend in 2003, I have been part of the COPS family since the beginning.
“The past 12 months have been challenging as I have had the death of my father-in-law and stepfather and my husband.
“The new well-being service couldn’t have come at a better time for me. It’s helped me access 24/7 relaxation sessions, which has improved my sleeping and helped me relax. My recent personal circumstances have been immensely triggering for me and reminded me of the grief of my father. The Spectrum Life app has linked me to counselling services that have supported me with further signposting.
“The app has also been great in providing online fitness videos, as one of my goals is to become fitter in 2024. The well-being app couldn’t have come at a better time to help me through a difficult time.”
Photo of Sergeant Edward Thomson who died on duty in 1982. Susan Gibson was 22 when her father died on duty.
Well-being support in all aspects of life.
Spectrum Life gives the charity “Survivors” immediate access to confidential mental health clinicians, sessions, resources, and digital contact.
- Coaching
Your own personal ‘Mental Health Coach’ to help you identify key areas you want to work on or improve. Coaches build an action plan with you and check in regularly. - Counselling & Therapy
Appropriate counselling or therapy, if needed, for as long as you’re making progress. - Advanced Care Team
A ‘Mental Health Concierge’ will help you navigate benefits, access specialist care, and identify available community support when needed and accessed via referral. - 24/7 Support
A mental health team will connect you to the proper support for you. Get in touch anytime via WhatsApp, Live Chat, Phone or SMS - Lifestyle experts, tools, and programmes
Live monthly Wellbeing Series and eLearning, Digital Gym, BeCalm meditation app, Sound Space podcast, Nutrition & Metrics, Tracking, Personal Health Insights, Challenges and Rewards.
The service also has a 24/7 support telephone service for survivors who do not have access to online technology.
24/7 COUNSELLING SERVICE
Survivors can ring 24/7 support telephone service and speak to a trained therapist.
Outcomes include:
- Improved sleep
- Improve mood
- Stress management
- Reduced anxiety
- Assets to help mindfulness
- Fitness and dietary sessions
How Susan joined the COPS family.
How Susan Gibson became part of the COPS family
Sergeant Edward Williams Thomson died on duty on a cold, icy day on 13 January 1982 when his car skidded off the road following a call to attend an RTC. He left behind his 22-year-old daughter, Susan Gibson, who has missed her father’s presence daily since.
Susan remembers reading a local newspaper and seeing a Strathclyde Police Detective, Jim McNulty, in an article about a Police Memorial Service in Scotland. Seeing her father’s name on the list of remembered officers began Susan’s journey with COPS. Thanks to co-founders Jim McNulty and Christine Fulton, Susan witnessed the Care of Police Survivors Charity being born. The first COPS Survivor Weekend was held in Lichfield, Staffordshire, in 2003. Sixty-four survivors came to the weekend, and Susan was one of them. Since then, Susan has attended many events, including The Survivors Book Club, which brings survivors together and provides peer support to the survivor family.
The charity is thrilled that the new service has helped Susan, and we hope it will also help further survivors who have been struck by tragedy since losing a family member whilst on duty.
Tim Buckley CEO of COPS said:
“If this new service helps just one survivor, we have done our job in supporting the families of police officers and staff who have died on duty.
“We will continue to put survivors at the centre of everything we do and the services we provide.”
Support COPS and DONATE if you can.
Every penny helps maintain the free peer support services we offer to the families of police officers and staff who have died on duty.
If you’d like to help fundraise please email:
Or donate now at: https://ukcops.org/make-a-donation/
