balanced lifestyle and address the mental health challenges they will face over the course of their career . Despite the long-held recognition of stress associated with the profession and its resulting behaviors , no comprehensive strategies have been implemented to mitigate the problem . When officers struggling with side effects of stress reached out for help , they were often told by senior officers , supervisors , departments , and training academies “ Suck it up , buttercup !”. 2
Recently , the Georgia Peace Officers Standards and Training Council ( POST ) began seeking a viable plan and training solution to strengthen officers ’ resistance to stress and improve encounters with the public , without placing them in greater danger .
As the ‘ War on Terror ’ continued for more than a decade , the United States Armed Services identified the impact of stress from repeated deployments on service personnel as a serious issue . A global assessment tool was used to measure ‘ psychological assets ’ of 1.5 million personnel . Findings of this assessment revealed military personnel using illicit drugs , committing violent crimes , or committing suicide were concentrated at the bottom of the psychological fitness curve . Attrition from basic training was three times higher for persons scoring in the bottom 10 %. Individuals returning from deployment experienced Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ( PTSD ) at one-third the rate of soldiers in the bottom 10 %. At the same time , personnel selected for early
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