Helping the Helper: Facilitating Mental Wellness for Police Officers
Police officers are trained and equipped to help those in need. But what about when the officer is in need? Who helps the helper?
According to Blue H.E.L.P., an organization dedicated to reducing mental health stigma in law enforcement, 177 officers died by suicide in 2020. As we are ending February 2021, the number is 22 and climbing. Every day, police officers are responding to critical incidents that can impact their health and mental well-being. Sometimes the impact is immediate and evident; other times, it’s insidious and builds over time. This can lead to officers developing poor coping mechanisms, physical problems such as digestive issues, and experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). What can police departments do to help the helper?
Change the Culture & Normalize Conversations about Mental Wellness
There is much stigma attached to an officer being declared unfit because of mental health reasons. This is one of the leading causes the officers do not ask for help. Normalizing discussions surrounding mental wellness and offering clear guidance and support can improve the likelihood that an officer will ask for help. Several years ago, the International Association of Chiefs of Police recommended regular, routine psychological wellness checks for officers and other first responders. Making it a routine wellness check can help normalize discussions surrounding mental wellness and encourage officers to talk about mental health concerns with each other.
Make Mental Health and Wellness a Priority
The leadership of a police department impacts how well officers thrive. Making mental health and mental wellness a priority from the top down can greatly influence officers struggling. Albert Einstein is quoted as saying, “Setting an example is not the main means of influencing others, it is the only means.” Police departments are required to provide in-service training yearly to meet the requirements set by their state. Dedicating a portion of that training every year to talk and learn about mental wellness sets the foundation for a thriving agency. A chief who is involved in and supports mental health literacy is a chief leading by example and making mental health and wellness a priority.
Think Outside the Box to Promote Mental Wellness
There are many ways a police department can help support and promote the mental wellness of their officers. Ask your officers what is something they would like to see implemented regarding mental health and mental wellness. This helps support normalizing these discussions and creates an atmosphere of inclusivity. Invite a mental health professional to participate in developing and presenting training about mental health and mental wellness. Or create a support group that is facilitated by a mental health professional.
Don’t have the budget to incorporate a mental health professional in your department? Look for an intern like me. Clinical Mental Health Counseling Interns have the foundational knowledge and are working towards honing their skills. Additionally, we are required to provide individual and group counseling services to meet the final academic requirements. A relationship with an intern passionate about helping the helper is a win-win for us all.
Improve Mental Wellness with Counseling for First Responders in Maryland
As a first responder, your job is to look after others. At LifeSpring Counseling Services, we want to make sure that YOU are taken care of! We want you to know that taking care of your mental well-being helps you continue serving your community, and it helps you and your relationships outside of work. We are fortunate to have mental health providers who have completed extra training to learn about working with firefighters and to have an intern who is retired from law enforcement.
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Interested in Counseling for First Responders?
If you’re a Marylander who knows that counseling is the direction you need to take, the therapists at LifeSpring Counseling Services are here to help. We offer online counseling services for mindfulness, depression, anxiety, trauma, and grief and loss. We also offer Brainspotting as a specialized service, and Brainspotting can be done online, too!
Here’s how you can get started! Online counseling for first responders isn’t the only service offered at our Maryland office
The counselors and social workers at our Maryland office also offer counseling services for trauma, grief and loss, boundary setting, communication skills, and difficult life transitions. We also offer specialized counseling services including Brainspotting and spiritually-integrated counseling. Because we are located next to several local universities, we also work with college students and international students.
Written By: Irene Burks, LGPC
Photo credit: Negative Space and Karolina Grabowska on Pexels
Date of Download: 3/22/2021
