Law Enforcement
Law enforcement face many challenges during their career that can lead to serious mental health concerns. It’s important that law enforcement agencies take action now to address the mental health and wellness of their officers and personnel.
Why it’s important to address mental health:
• Police officers can face stressful situations that can lead to mental health challenges. Studies show that these challenges can lead to an increased risk of:
– Insomnia
– Suicide
– Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
– Depression
What you can do:
• If you are in a leadership position at a law enforcement agency, start implementing the CARES UP model for you and your officers. Contact CARESUP@omh.ny.gov for assistance.
• If you are a police officer, share this website with your supervisor. It’s important to spread the word about CARES UP and how it can help build wellness and resiliency at your police station.
• Complete free trainings and learn from the resources that CARES UP offers.
Why CARES UP can help:
• CARES UP can be a framework for how to create or improve “wellness and resiliency” initiatives for your agency.
• Gain access to tip sheets, guides, templates, and toolkits for how to share resources with your agency.
Start Implementing The CARES UP Model At Your Organization
Examples:
Resources:
- A template on how to develop a list of behavioral health resources for your agency to share with your law enforcement officers
- The Comprehensive Framework For Law Enforcement Suicide Prevention
- Behavioral Health Resource List For Uniformed Personnel
- New York Law Enforcement Assistance Program
- Putting Officer Input Into Action: Engaging Law Enforcement in CARES UP
- Clarkstown Trainings Focus On Officer Wellness & Resiliency
- New Wellness App Links Mamaroneck Police Officers to Local Mental Health Support Services
- Port Chester Engages Diverse Professionals to Support Officer Wellness
References:
Rattue, P, Serious Health Risks Among Police Officers Due to Stress. Medical News Today
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/247781#1
Skeffington, P. (2016, August 2). , One in five police officers are at risk of PTSD- Heres how we need to respond ( 8/2/2016). The conversation. https://theconversation.com/one-in-five-police-officers-are-at-risk-of-ptsd-heres-how-we-need-to-respond-63272
Violanti JM, Burchfiel CM, Miller DB, Andrew ME, Dorn J, Wactawski-Wende J, Beighley CM, Pierino K, Joseph PN, Vena JE, Sharp DS, Trevisan M. The Buffalo Cardio-Metabolic Occupational Police Stress (BCOPS) pilot study: methods and participant characteristics. Ann Epidemiol. 2006 Feb;16(2):148-56. doi: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2005.07.054. Epub 2005 Sep 12. PMID: 16165369