Terrorism, espionage, cyber threats and - domestic abuse.
Terrorism, espionage and cyber threats, are the top three threats to Britain's national security.
In 2015 The "Strategic Defence and Security Review," announced £178bn of equipment spending, after analysing the full range of internal and external threats and examining the capabilities needed to counter them.
But It's not just countries that spend vast amounts of money on security. Corporations spend millions on bodyguards to protect their CEO's, as well as CCTV, cyber security, etc,
Apple pays $700,000 a year to protect CEO Tim Cook.
$1.6 million for Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos $1.5 million for (former) Oracle CEO Larry Ellison $584,075 for Disney CEO Bob Iger $385,606 for Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffet $320,428 for FedEX CEO Fred Smith
I believe that it's time for organisations to consider another threat - a serious internal threat that pervades all areas of society. A threat that has serious financial and human consequences - That threat is domestic abuse and the mental health issues that it can cause.
The money being spent on protecting the CEO's of some of the worlds largest organisations, is nothing, compared to the money being lost by companies as a direct result of domestic abuse.
Domestic abuse and your mental health
Domestic abuse can have an enormous effect on your mental health. It is now well accepted that abuse (both in childhood and in adult life) is often the main factor in the development of depression, anxiety and other mental health disorders, and may lead to sleep disturbances, self-harm, suicide and attempted suicide, eating disorders and substance misuse.
Sufferers and survivors of domestic abuse are three times more likely to develop serious mental health issues.
55.8% of female victims, suffer from mental or emotional problems as do 41.2% of male victims. 11% of male victims try to take their own lives, as do 7.2% of female victims.
The economic and social costs of domestic abuse
A U.K. Government report estimates the social and economic cost of domestic abuse in the year ending March 2017 in England and Wales to be approximately £66 billion.
The economic and social costs of mental ill-health
Mental ill-health, including stress, depression and anxiety, is thought to be responsible for 91 million lost working days each year, more than for any other illness.
Overall, recent estimates put the cost to UK employers at £30 billion each year.
How much money is your company spending on security, whilst ignoring the internal threat of domestic abuse?
For more information on tackling domestic abuse in your organisation, please contact, Domestic Abuse Business Support (DABS):
+44 (0) 7853 621303