“Man Up and Get to Work”: Assessing How Police Officers Cope with Occupational Stress

• In Event: Mental Wellness in Policing

Abstract

Law enforcement is a stressful occupation, given the unpredictable nature of police work, increased scrutiny from police administrators and the public (Baker et al. 2023; Maguire et al., 2017), and exposure to trauma (Heffren & Hausfird, 2014). While concern for officers’ mental health has received more attention from scholars, practitioners, and policy-makers in recent years, it is imperative to evaluate whether and how this concern translates to addressing mental health issues at the agency level. To do so, the authors conducted interviews with officers from a local police department in California with the goal of assessing how officers cope with occupational stress and mental health concerns. Findings from this pilot study reveal that although participating officers understand the importance of addressing mental health issues that stem from police work (especially as it relates to retaining officers long-term), they continue to be reluctant to speak to peers, friends and family, and mental health professionals about issues they may be facing.

Authors

• Jordan C. Pickering, California State University, Fresno

• Jennifer Hernandez-Orellana, California State University, Fresno