Portsdown View receives special visit from local police officers for World Mental Health Day

Recently, Portsdown View care home in Bedhampton welcomed two local police officers from Havant Police for a special visit for residents and staff. Organised to mark Mental Health Awareness Week, the visit encouraged open conversations around the role trust, reassurance, and social support can play in supporting positive mental health outcomes for older adults.

PC Sue Smith and PC Sireena Sarahs spoke with residents about a range of important topics, including cyber security, personal safety, safeguarding, and scam awareness. Residents were encouraged to ask questions, share their own experiences, and gain a greater understanding of the day-to-day work local police officers carry out to protect and support the community. The officers also spent time touring the home and speaking individually with residents, including those relaxing in their bedrooms.

Online safety proved to be a particularly important area of discussion, with both officers encouraging residents to speak up and seek support if they ever felt worried, vulnerable, or unsure about something online. Residents were advised to be cautious when sharing personal information and were given guidance on how and where to report concerns or suspicious activity, either directly to the Police or to the home’s General Manager.

Pippa Mafunga, General Manager at Portsdown View, comments on the day: “This year, we wanted to use World Mental Health Day as an opportunity to explore the wider factors that influence emotional wellbeing, particularly for older adults. Feeling safe, supported, and connected to the people around us has a profound impact on mental health, and our residents gained so much reassurance and confidence from spending time with PC Sue and PC Sireena.”

The visit also highlighted the important role that safety, trust, and community connection play in supporting positive mental wellbeing. While mental health is often discussed in purely clinical terms, research shows that feeling secure, supported, and socially connected can have a profound impact on emotional wellbeing.

Indeed, the World Health Organisation states that “high-quality social connections are essential to our mental and physical health,” identifying loneliness and social isolation as major contributors to poor mental health among older people. Equally, fear of crime and a lack of trust within communities have been linked to increased anxiety, reduced social engagement, and poorer overall quality of life.

Research published in The Gerontologist also found that perceived social disorder can heighten depressive symptoms, discourage participation in activities, and increase isolation among older adults. By contrast, strong local relationships and trusted networks can help reduce fear, support healthier ageing, and improve overall wellbeing.

By welcoming local police officers into the home, the team at Portsdown View hoped to reinforce the message that positive mental wellbeing is shaped not only by clinical support, but also by a high level of social trust and psychological safety.

Pippa Mafunga again: “It was a truly lovely afternoon for everyone involved. PC Sue and PC Sireena were incredibly kind, engaging, and generous with their time, and our residents thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them. Ultimately, this visit was about reminding our residents that they are safe and supported at Portsdown View, and that they are surrounded by a strong community they can always lean on.”

The feedback from the visit was overwhelmingly positive, with many residents saying they found the visit both reassuring and confidence-boosting. Indeed, the success of the visit has already sparked plans for future collaboration, with Havant Police set to return to the home in the coming months as part of Portsdown View’s bespoke ‘Dementia Perspectives Training’ initiative.

Portsdown View is part of the Connaught Care Collection, an award-winning provider of luxury care homes. For more information, please contact [email protected], or call 02393 882154.