The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine | June 2023
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survey of more than 400 Dallas Police Department personnel identified four primary barriers to mental health service access : [ 4 ]
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Inability of officers to recognize when they are experiencing a mental health issue . |
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Concerns regarding confidentiality . |
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Belief that mental health professionals cannot relate to those working in law enforcement . |
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The notion that those who seek mental health services are unfit to serve as officers in the criminal justice system . |
Consequently , fewer than 20 % of police officers with confirmed mental health issues sought services in the previous year .
This does not have to be the norm . “ Police leaders need to lead by example . If they expect their officers to seek mental health treatment , then they , themselves must be willing to do so ,” says Lewis Z . Schlosser , Ph . D ., ABPP , managing partner of the Institute for Forensic Psychology in New Jersey . “ Moreover , leaders should be transparent and honest about it , as this will normalize seeking mental health treatment .”
A department that openly talks about , supports and plans for the likelihood of mental health trauma is one that destigmatizes it and helps those who may be suffering in silence . Consider these best practices :
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Share articles on why mental health needs to be prioritized to demonstrate that leadership is invested in the conversation around resilience and strong mental health .
Build a culture that defines strength as the willingness to admit there is something wrong and encourages talking about mental health .
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Eliminate the false premise that first responders are superheroes just because they wear a badge . They are human beings who need safe spaces to open up about their experiences .
Another piece of advice from Schlosser : Introduce the police psychologist to department personnel to build trust and rapport before your officers need his or her services .
2 . Help your first responders break through their armor All first responders learn from Day 1 to put on their figurative armor as a means to protect their heart . They have historically been conditioned to hold the grim aspects of the job close to the vest , to tamp down their feelings . This protective armor , or coping effort , and a belief that compartmentalizing the job away from one ’ s home life will effectively keep them safe from the effects of trauma is , unfortunately , misguided .
First responders need safe spaces — at work and at home — to take the armor off . They need to understand that for a person to admit they may need help with their mental health is not a sign of weakness . It is not shameful . In fact , it is just the opposite . It takes nerve , introspection and emotional intelligence to ask for help . And the likelihood that someone will reach out for help increases exponentially when their colleagues and supervisors provide a safe space to break through the armor .
3 . Invest in your team ; hire a mental health coach While performance and psychological coaching are common in the business and sporting industries , it is sorely lacking in the first responder community . Recently we encountered a second-generation first responder who asked for referrals for a wellness counselor to “ stay ahead ” of any mental health challenges she may face . This should become the norm .
While “ choir practice ” or gathering with other officers to hash out the day at a local tavern , may be a way to release the angst of the job among friends , it can also be detrimental , as vicarious trauma may be exacerbated through these seemingly harmless conversations paired with the depressant of alcohol . Leaders should support healthy means of release — exercise , family and community time — and the first responder industry must work to get mental health resources in place before traumatic events happen .
4 . Build organizational resilience The U . S . Surgeon General reports putting mental health at the center of workplace policies is more important than ever as the nation grapples with financial stressors , pandemic shifts in workplace culture and growing concerns about stress . [ 5 ] This should be no different in first responder workplaces across the country .
According to Aduro , a provider of well-being support for workplaces , resilience is an important trait that helps prevent and heal burnout . Psychologists define resilience as the process of adapting in the face of adversity , trauma , tragedy , threats or significant sources of stress . Not only do resilient people adapt to difficulties , but they bounce back and grow from difficult times .
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