Mental Health for Security

Contributed by the Dhahran Chapter

In a profession defined by vigilance, responsibility, and resilience, the mental wellbeing of security professionals is often overlooked. Yet, it is one of the most critical factors in sustaining performance, sound decision-making, and long-term career success.

This fireside chat brings together industry leaders to explore the unique psychological challenges facing security practitioners today — from job-related stress, shift work, and remote assignments to cultural barriers and stigma around seeking help. Through real-world insights, practical strategies, and open dialogue, the session aims to shed light on the human side of security and inspire a culture of care, resilience, and support across the industry.

Learning Objectives
 
By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Understand how mental health impacts the effectiveness and resilience of security professionals at all levels.
• Identify key stressors in the security profession, including shift work, remote deployments, and technological demands.
• Recognize early warning signs of mental health struggles in themselves and colleagues.
• Explore practical strategies and lifestyle habits — including physical activity, rest, and peer support — that promote wellbeing.
• Examine the role of leadership, organizational culture, and workplace safety in fostering psychological health.
• Apply actionable takeaways to reduce stigma, improve awareness, and build healthier, more supportive security teams.

Speakers

Mike Hurst, CPP, CPOI
HJA Consult

Mike is an award-winning security professional with over 25 years’ experience in executive security recruitment, and strategic consultancy with his company, HJA Consult, he has a background in business development, general management. 

He is the Director of the International Foundation for Protection Officers (IFPO) in the UK and is a member of its Global Advisory Board. IFPO champions education and certification within the profession, especially for frontline security.

Between 2010 and 2020 he was Joint Vice Chair/Chair of the ASIS UK Chapter and a Member of its European Advisory Council.  Previously Secretary of the Extremism and Political Instability Community (EPIC) and Professional Development Community (PDC), he established the Mental Health and Wellbeing Working Group on ASIS Connects.  Currently he is also a member of the ASIS Awards Committee and is a non-trustee member of the ASIS Foundation.   He is an ASIS Life Member.

For six years, Mike was a Main Board Director of The Security Institute (Events and Charity portfolios) and a Member of its Validation Board.

He is an Ambassador for veterans’ mental health charity PTSD Resolution and established the #SecurityMindsMatter initiative in the UK. 

John Rodriguez
Founder of Empathic Security Cultures, LLC

John brings 43+ years of pure corporate security experience working for major corporations including General Motors, Kimberly-Clark, Levi Strauss & Co., and Cardinal Health (33 years in Latin America/Caribbean). He previously was the Chief Security Officer for Temple-Inland in Austin, TX. He also owned a consulting firm for 10 years with over 100 Fortune 500® clients from 1995-2004.

John is a security generalist with a passion for security culture development, coaching, and mental health for a psychologically safe workplace and mitigating hostile environment risks.

While with Kimberly-Clark Corporation, security director for Latin American Operations, the company was ranked #1 of 1,900 companies from 2009-2011 by the Great Place to Work Institute® John’s innovative security strategies were recognized by senior leadership as critical contributions to those years of #1 rankings. Business sales ranked 1st or 2nd place in every country of operation.

He is a globally recognized expert in corporate security culture development with a focus on the prevention side of mitigating hostile environments, WPV risks, and BTAM - resulting in employee engagement, trusted business partner status and commercial profitability.

He holds a Master’s of Liberal Arts (Humanities), Texas Christian University and a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice, North Texas State University. He also completed the Chief Security Officer Executive Development Program, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

He has lectured for the largest security association - ASIS International (member), the U.S. State Dept. Overseas Advisory Council (OSAC) (member), the International Security Management Association (ISMA) (former member), Association of Threat Assessment Professionals (ATAP), (member), as well as other groups.

John is a Certified Family Support Group Facilitator with NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Health, and gives back to the community by leading support group discussions as well as training at law enforcement academies as part of their Crisis Intervention Team curriculum in the Greater Austin, TX area.

John earned his facilitator certificate from the Center for Building a Culture of Empathy, and as a student of psychology, social psychology, and neuroscience, earned a Certification in the Foundations of NeuroLeadership program with the NeuroLeadership Institute.

Topic: Managing Organizations

Credit Information: Completion of this webinar is eligible for 1 CPE credit.  CPE credits for ASIS-sponsored webinars will be updated in your user profile within 48 hours of completion.  Self-reporting of CPE credits is not required.