Monique Salido
Akers
ENG 102
The Importance of Mandatory Mental Health Programs for Police Officers
Introduction
Today's police officers face dangers everyday the put on a uniform. They respond to calls for service from the public in a hope to make a difference in the world. Police see citizens at on their best days and their worst days. For a police officer, meeting a citizen on one of their best days might mean they assisted with the birth of a child while responding to a call or awarding a citizen for saving another's life. However, these events are few and far between in the life of a police officer. Most days they are responding to calls for people who are in danger. These types of service calls can have long reaching mental health effects on police. Day after day they are put into dangerous situations whiling attempting to keep the public safe. They are exposed to traumatic events that reshape their view of the public. These events can lead to mental health issues that often go unrecognized and un diagnoses. When you call the police for assistance it is important to know that responding officer is mentally sound and is prepared to handle your emergency. This is why a mandatory mental health program should be put in place in this country for all law enforcement professionals.
Extent of the Problem
Since the first police force was established in the United States officers have had the primary responsibility of the safety and well-being of the community they serve. Police understand that danger and traumatic events are part of the job and are trained in the police academy on how to handle these types of events to keep other safe. Unfortunately, there are few programs or classes in the academy that teach officer how to deal with the personal toll it takes on them and how to combat the stresses of what they see every day. Many officers do not recognize the stresses they face and do not seek the help they need to maintain a state of good mental health. As there is not a mandatory mental health program available among police agencies many officers attempt to mitigate the stress in non-productive ways. Statistics show that six out of ten people will develop post-traumatic stress disorder (NIH). Some attempt to self-correct their mental issues with alcohol, violence, or drugs (NIH). Police officers expose to high stress increases the possibility of developing post-traumatic stress disorder. Nearly thirty percent of officers experience PTSD (Rinner).
How this Effects the Public
Violent encounters with police are on the rise. Individuals often target police and commit heinous acts against them. They use knives, guns, and even vehicles to assault police officer while they are performing their required duties. ( Xu,et al)
If an officer is not mentally prepared to respond to these occurrences in a safe and productive manner the problem only becomes worse. Data shows from the shows that violent attacks on police happen and estimated 80,000 times a year in this county. According to an article published by the International Association of Chief of Police, a police officers' mental health directly affects how the perform on the job. The article states, mental health can "affect their work performance, including aspects of their job that are critical to public safety such as man quick, effective decisions in stressful situations" (IACP).
Short and Long Term Solutions
Police agencies need to recognize there is a problem. They need to act quickly and appropriately to the mental health needs of their officers. Implementing mandatory after action briefings with mental health professionals after being exposed to a traumatic event is a short-term fix. Creating and supporting a mandatory ongoing mental health program within the departments is the long-term fix. This would be comprised of mental health professionals to assist officers in understanding how these events can change the way they think and the way they react to them. Agencies could create counseling programs that are confidential, peer support teams, and critical incident debriefings to support their officers. Although most agencies us the debriefing teqchnique after major events, that is a one time "fix". In the article, Building Police Officer Psychological Capital to Mitigate Stress, the author sates," Support for officers must be ongoing or long-term; research revels that short-term debriefing is not effective" (Murray). It is critical that supervisors are provided training on recognizing potential mental health issues (ICJIA). These programs could be done in person or online but require action on the part of department heads to mandate such programs.
Issues Facing Police Agencies
Police culture, for the most part is a close-knit group. They often do not welcome people or trust people that do not do the same job they do. Police have the idea that they are the protectors and do not need protecting. This culture is prime for police to not show a weak side. Officers are often ridiculed by peers for showing any type of real emotion other than the emotion of strength. Due to this way of thinking, officers do not often share with their peers or command staff that they are facing a mental health crisis. Since this is the norm, it should be incumbent on the directors of the agencies to implement mandatory mental health programs. There is a stigma relating to mental health services. There are barriers to dealing with mental health among police officers. According to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, "some officers may believe that seeking counseling will lead peers to question their ability to handle stressful situations in the field" (ICJIA). For these programs to be effective the agency needs to make sure the programs are supported by command staff, remain confidential, and headed by credible mental health providers (ICJIA).
Conclusion
Every citizen wants to feel safe and secure in their communities. Citizens deserve the best possible interactions with police. Police have an obligation to provide profession service in the performance of their duties. Without mandatory mental health programs of officers, the officers are unable to perform at their best. Police agencies need to understand there is a problem but have not taken the appropriate measures to ensure their officers are well cared for. They equip officers with guns, batons, tasers, and other combat tools to protect them from violence. These tools only protect the body. The mind should be the most important thing to protect and implementing these programs will ensure officers have a fighting chance for success for the future.
Works Cited
Akers
ENG 102
The Importance of Mandatory Mental Health Programs for Police Officers
Introduction
Today's police officers face dangers everyday the put on a uniform. They respond to calls for service from the public in a hope to make a difference in the world. Police see citizens at on their best days and their worst days. For a police officer, meeting a citizen on one of their best days might mean they assisted with the birth of a child while responding to a call or awarding a citizen for saving another's life. However, these events are few and far between in the life of a police officer. Most days they are responding to calls for people who are in danger. These types of service calls can have long reaching mental health effects on police. Day after day they are put into dangerous situations whiling attempting to keep the public safe. They are exposed to traumatic events that reshape their view of the public. These events can lead to mental health issues that often go unrecognized and un diagnoses. When you call the police for assistance it is important to know that responding officer is mentally sound and is prepared to handle your emergency. This is why a mandatory mental health program should be put in place in this country for all law enforcement professionals.
Extent of the Problem
Since the first police force was established in the United States officers have had the primary responsibility of the safety and well-being of the community they serve. Police understand that danger and traumatic events are part of the job and are trained in the police academy on how to handle these types of events to keep other safe. Unfortunately, there are few programs or classes in the academy that teach officer how to deal with the personal toll it takes on them and how to combat the stresses of what they see every day. Many officers do not recognize the stresses they face and do not seek the help they need to maintain a state of good mental health. As there is not a mandatory mental health program available among police agencies many officers attempt to mitigate the stress in non-productive ways. Statistics show that six out of ten people will develop post-traumatic stress disorder (NIH). Some attempt to self-correct their mental issues with alcohol, violence, or drugs (NIH). Police officers expose to high stress increases the possibility of developing post-traumatic stress disorder. Nearly thirty percent of officers experience PTSD (Rinner).
How this Effects the Public
Violent encounters with police are on the rise. Individuals often target police and commit heinous acts against them. They use knives, guns, and even vehicles to assault police officer while they are performing their required duties. ( Xu,et al)
If an officer is not mentally prepared to respond to these occurrences in a safe and productive manner the problem only becomes worse. Data shows from the shows that violent attacks on police happen and estimated 80,000 times a year in this county. According to an article published by the International Association of Chief of Police, a police officers' mental health directly affects how the perform on the job. The article states, mental health can "affect their work performance, including aspects of their job that are critical to public safety such as man quick, effective decisions in stressful situations" (IACP).
Short and Long Term Solutions
Police agencies need to recognize there is a problem. They need to act quickly and appropriately to the mental health needs of their officers. Implementing mandatory after action briefings with mental health professionals after being exposed to a traumatic event is a short-term fix. Creating and supporting a mandatory ongoing mental health program within the departments is the long-term fix. This would be comprised of mental health professionals to assist officers in understanding how these events can change the way they think and the way they react to them. Agencies could create counseling programs that are confidential, peer support teams, and critical incident debriefings to support their officers. Although most agencies us the debriefing teqchnique after major events, that is a one time "fix". In the article, Building Police Officer Psychological Capital to Mitigate Stress, the author sates," Support for officers must be ongoing or long-term; research revels that short-term debriefing is not effective" (Murray). It is critical that supervisors are provided training on recognizing potential mental health issues (ICJIA). These programs could be done in person or online but require action on the part of department heads to mandate such programs.
Issues Facing Police Agencies
Police culture, for the most part is a close-knit group. They often do not welcome people or trust people that do not do the same job they do. Police have the idea that they are the protectors and do not need protecting. This culture is prime for police to not show a weak side. Officers are often ridiculed by peers for showing any type of real emotion other than the emotion of strength. Due to this way of thinking, officers do not often share with their peers or command staff that they are facing a mental health crisis. Since this is the norm, it should be incumbent on the directors of the agencies to implement mandatory mental health programs. There is a stigma relating to mental health services. There are barriers to dealing with mental health among police officers. According to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, "some officers may believe that seeking counseling will lead peers to question their ability to handle stressful situations in the field" (ICJIA). For these programs to be effective the agency needs to make sure the programs are supported by command staff, remain confidential, and headed by credible mental health providers (ICJIA).
Conclusion
Every citizen wants to feel safe and secure in their communities. Citizens deserve the best possible interactions with police. Police have an obligation to provide profession service in the performance of their duties. Without mandatory mental health programs of officers, the officers are unable to perform at their best. Police agencies need to understand there is a problem but have not taken the appropriate measures to ensure their officers are well cared for. They equip officers with guns, batons, tasers, and other combat tools to protect them from violence. These tools only protect the body. The mind should be the most important thing to protect and implementing these programs will ensure officers have a fighting chance for success for the future.
Works Cited
