6 trauma management best practices for police organizations
Make mental health a priority to strengthen your personnel ’ s resilience
By William Mazur and Joseph Collins
The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine | June 2023
More than 80 % of police and other first responders experience traumatic events on the job . [ 1 ] And for the estimated 30 % of officers who are military veterans , this trauma may be layered upon past trauma suffered on the battlefield .
Incidences of child abuse , suicide , domestic violence , officer-involved shootings and more can be a regular part of an officer ’ s job . [ 2 ] In fact , our data found first responders experience 7-10 significant traumas in their first year on the job . By contrast , civilians may face just two in their entire lives .
While most police officers go into law enforcement knowing they will be exposed to horrific scenes , many are not prepared for what can happen emotionally , psychologically and physically . As former police chiefs who now work with law enforcement being treated at Sierra Tucson , a counseling and mental health facility in Arizona , we think of trauma as the proverbial death by 1,000 cuts : If untreated , it can result in emotional detachment , difficulty in relationships , depression , anger , complacency and , all too often , thoughts of suicide .
It ’ s our position that law enforcement leaders must not only provide support for first responders already facing trauma but also proactively put in place programs that help build resilience to the pressure of the job from Day 1 of every new recruit ’ s employment . One of the major responsibilities of law enforcement leaders is to mitigate risk . Strategic planning , scenario-based training , threat assessment and situational awareness exercises are all necessary components of solid risk mitigation . Ensuring your team ’ s mental well-being should be no different .
TRAUMA HAS NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON POLICE National Alliance on Mental Illness ( NAMI ) statistics show police officers report much higher rates of depression , burnout , posttraumatic stress and anxiety than the general population . In addition , almost 25 % of police officers have experienced suicidal ideation at least once . [ 3 ] A key reason ? Trauma .
Trauma is an event or circumstance that results in physical , emotional and / or life-threatening harm . It can have lasting adverse effects on the individual ’ s mental , physical and emotional health and social and / or spiritual well-being .
Trauma is prevalent within the law enforcement community , especially for those injured on the job . Police officers experience trauma in three ways :
�� Acute Trauma is a major traumatic experience such as a shooting that cuts through the survivor ’ s mental “ armor ,” overloading their system and leaving them feeling unprotected and dealing with more than they can handle .
�� Layered trauma is the smaller , cumulative experiences that change an officer slowly . The figurative mental armor falls off over time — first an arm plate , then a leg piece — and after a few years there is not more armor left and seemingly no resources available to help the officer cope . The officer is essentially stripped of their ability to apply healthy coping skills in this type of scenario .
�� Vicarious trauma is experiencing someone else ’ s trauma after hearing or relating to their stories of traumatic experiences .
There ’ s also a fourth category that significantly affects law enforcement : unresolved trauma . Unresolved trauma is complex trauma that has built up over time and has not been dealt with . For example , we ’ ve seen the effects of trauma in an officer who grew up in an abusive household and is then confronted with a call for abused children . The effect of that experience may force unresolved trauma to the surface .
The hyperarousal , re-experiencing and avoidance symptoms of trauma can make completing the most mundane tasks seemingly impossible . In many cases , those battling post-traumatic stress turn to drugs and / or alcohol as a means of coping . Unfortunately , self-medicating is like “ saving the roof and shingles without dealing with the fire in the basement .”
Furthermore , should the symptoms of post-traumatic stress remain present in an individual ’ s life without alleviation , the anguish can worsen and trigger additional mental health concerns . Police officers experiencing trauma must do something to get the trauma out . Therapy may be the answer .
6 TRAUMA MANAGEMENT BEST PRACTICES FOR POLICE ORGANIZATIONS Following are some best practices to enhance your officer wellness :
1 . Destigmatize discussion around trauma and mental health According to Walden University , stigmatization is a major factor that prevents police officers from getting help . An anonymous
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