Police Supervisors are not always trained to recognize the symptoms of stress, or if they are, they do not take appropriate action. Consequently, many of the ills associated with law enforcement such as alcohol abuse and marital conflict, fester until the results include physical illness, depression, domestic violence, and suicide. Although most departments provide officers with communications equipment, weapons, vehicles, and bullet resistant vests, “we have not yet devised training programs that are capable of bullet-proofing the mind." (Judith A. Waters, 2009) Police departments tend to deny the very existence of psychological factors. Due to misreporting, however, the present statistics underestimate the scope of the problem. “What we do know is that the suicide rate for Federal Bureau of Investigation agents is 116 percent above the national rate.”(Judith A. Waters 2009)
Suicide Prevention
In law enforcement, the prevention of suicide and other sequelae to traumatic events requires a strong support system. To the police officers, no one is better equipped to comprehend the pressures of law enforcement than another officer. Police officers normally tend to gravitate towards other officers to help them through traumatic experiences or problems associated with their line of work. Officers understand that the people that will understand them the most are their colleagues. Departments should train peer counselors to help officers cope with the stress associated with the job. According to Judith A. Waters (2009), Peer Counselors should be condu
cted by mental health professionals with experience in counseling skills, crisis intervention theory and practices, early warning signs of acute or chronic stress, suicide lethality assessment, the facts of alcohol and other drug abuse, and the issues of confidentiality. In addition, according to Lou Michel (2009), Peer counselors should be selected based on several criteria, including, trustworthiness, and sensitivity to the issues of racial diversity and other cultural factors, and the ability to command respect and establish rapport with clients quickly.
In law enforcement, the prevention of suicide and other sequelae to traumatic events requires a strong support system. To the police officers, no one is better equipped to comprehend the pressures of law enforcement than another officer. Police officers normally tend to gravitate towards other officers to help them through traumatic experiences or problems associated with their line of work. Officers understand that the people that will understand them the most are their colleagues. Departments should train peer counselors to help officers cope with the stress associated with the job. According to Judith A. Waters (2009), Peer Counselors should be condu
cted by mental health professionals with experience in counseling skills, crisis intervention theory and practices, early warning signs of acute or chronic stress, suicide lethality assessment, the facts of alcohol and other drug abuse, and the issues of confidentiality. In addition, according to Lou Michel (2009), Peer counselors should be selected based on several criteria, including, trustworthiness, and sensitivity to the issues of racial diversity and other cultural factors, and the ability to command respect and establish rapport with clients quickly.Judith A. Waters, York University, Canada, William Ussery, York University,
Canada. (2007). Police stress: history, contributing factors, symptoms, and interventions. Policing, 30(2), 169-188. Retrieved April 26, 2009, from Criminal Justice Periodicals database. (Document ID: 1373520491
Canada. (2007). Police stress: history, contributing factors, symptoms, and interventions. Policing, 30(2), 169-188. Retrieved April 26, 2009, from Criminal Justice Periodicals database. (Document ID: 1373520491
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