Police Officer Health and Wellness

• In Event: Police Stress, Burnout, and Wellness

Abstract

Despite the traumatic and difficult events regularly encountered in the line of duty, as a collective, police officers are a resilient and adaptable group. However, over the last few years, there has been increased awareness of the mental health difficulties that first responders are experiencing, due in part to the stressful and traumatic nature of the work as well as the overall negative impact performing regular duties can have. Police suicide rates are high in some jurisdictions, and some research suggests that mental health concerns are not being effectively treated. The objective of the current survey is to gather collective information about members’ experiences, to assess members’ adaptive coping mechanisms and to identify areas where additional support services may benefit the members. As a close-knit group, police officers are often reluctant to answer questions about their stress and mental health, even when they are anonymous. As a result, little is known about what contributes to stress and psychological injury, as well as the factors that help buffer the potentially harmful effects of frontline work. The results of the over 500 responses from officers in a major urban Canadian police department serve as a first step in identifying these stressors.

Authors

• Curt T. Griffiths, Simon Fraser University

• Nahanni Pollard, Douglas College

• Lisa Kitt, Kwantlen Polytechnic University