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Stress Of Being A Police Officer – Ryan Wagoner does not work for, consult with, own shares in, or receive funds from any company or organization that will profit from this article, and has disclosed that he has no affiliations other than those mentioned above.
A Dallas police officer attends the funeral of Baton Rouge officer Montrell Jackson. REUTERS/Jonathan Bachman
Stress Of Being A Police Officer
Many people in the United States cannot decide that their occupation involves “an element of personal danger.”
Pdf) Occupational Stress Among Police Personnel A Literature Review
It is, however, part of the job description for police officers across the country. This is specifically stated from the Baton Rouge Police Department Police Officer Duties and Responsibilities.
While the daily risk of danger that police officers face can change from day to day, the police shootings in Dallas and Baton Rouge earlier this year are a reminder of how quickly life-threatening situations can develop. for law enforcement officers. .
On August 13, another officer was killed in Eastman, Georgia while speaking with a suspect in a car. Officer Tim Smith was shot on Main Street in the town about 60 miles outside of Macon.
On August 14, another Georgia state trooper was shot and killed in Marietta, Georgia, a suburb northwest of Atlanta. Officer Scott Davis, a 10-year veteran, was investigating a car break-in when the suspects opened fire and shot Davis in the leg. Davis underwent surgery and is expected to survive.
Learn About Being A Police Officer
How does this concern affect the mental health of the police, and how might that change in light of some of the events described in the media recently?
These are important questions to ask, even if they are not easy to answer. One concern is the well-being of stressed officers. Another concern is how their stress affects the well-being of others.
As a psychiatrist who studies stressors in the police and other professions, I will share insights from the research and offer my own analysis. While the police have historically proven themselves to be a resilient group, deliberate homicide can disrupt that resilience.
Also, you might be surprised to learn that police officers are just as stressed as the rest of us. They do not like unpleasant tasks such as paper work. Dissatisfaction with work and conflicts between colleagues are also stress factors.
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It is not hard to believe that because of the increased occupational risk, police officers have a higher rate of mental illness. However, the literature paints a more mixed picture, particularly when considering suicide rates.
Suicide rates are often the place to start when considering mental illness. These metrics provide a clear, tangible result that can provide clues when comparing police officers to the general public.
At least one study found that “more police officers die by their own hands than die in the line of duty.” Another showed that the risk of suicide could be increased in police officers compared to other professions.
In another study, however, the suicide rate of police officers in New York was equal to or lower than the suicide rate of other residents of the city.
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Although some increases in the suicide rate among police officers have been found in other studies, this is usually location specific. Therefore, they may not represent officers as a whole.
Dallas police officers comfort each other at the funeral of slain officer Michael Kroll. REUTERS/Tom Fox/Dallas Morning News/Linn photo
In addition to suicide, another problem is the possibility of an officer developing mental illness due to repeated trauma.
In particular, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a consideration after any life-threatening injury. However, to some extent, exposure to traumatic events provides some inoculation. Stress inoculation training is a method used by police and military academies to train officers and soldiers to deal with traumatic events. This type of training involves stress training, behavioral and psychological interventions to deal with stress, and simulation of stressful experiences to apply these skills.
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There is some evidence that it works. For example, a 2007 study found that police officers involved in rescue and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center disaster site suffered less PTSD than other workers. Their overall levels of PTSD were lower compared to workers and volunteers with no prior disaster training or experience.
There are many theories as to why police officers are so resilient. Some say it’s because of the initial background check the officers go through when they’re hired. It can also be special training to deal with stressful situations.
However, even if we consider that police officers in general are under increased levels of stress, is that stress only related to the increased danger they are exposed to?
Maybe not. Many studies show that administrative and organizational factors in policing, including unpleasant responsibilities and lack of recognition for good work, can be as important in terms of stress as physical and psychological danger.
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It turns out that officers like being in charge of their work and being told they are doing a good job, just like the rest of us.
In particular, at least one 2009 study found that increased exposure to job stress was significantly associated with negative outcomes for police officers, including depression and intimate partner abuse.
Examples of increased feelings of work stress included job dissatisfaction, exposure to critical incidents, and lack of cooperation among co-workers.
This again shows that despite the fact that police officers face an increased level of danger in the performance of their official duties, the standard difficulties in any profession are a major stress factor.
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How might increased media scrutiny and recent attacks on police during high-profile shootings affect employee resilience?
And would a greater fear of serious violence against an officer lead to more psychiatric symptoms and illnesses in this group?
Although more general media coverage may have a differential effect on individual officer stress levels, some exposure to the general concept of policing will have some effect. Previous research has shown that inappropriate and excessive discipline by police officers can lead to increased levels of stress.
What happens when this ridiculous control comes from the media and not the supervisor? Will specific law enforcement involvement in violent acts affect officers’ mental health?
Why Has Law Enforcement Suicide Has Become An Epidemic?
We know that anyone dealing with a significant increase in stress can suffer consequences in different areas of their lives, with very different responses to deal with this new stressor.
The officer-involved shootings in Dallas and Baton Rouge are expressing concern that police are now playing a more militant role. It’s more like military service, where someone specifically wants to kill.
The narrowing of the gap between the two positions may suggest that studies of returning soldiers may provide insight into the potential effects on the mental health of police officers.
In a 2007 study, clinicians determined that 20.3 percent of active duty soldiers and 42.4 percent of reservists needed mental health treatment.
Pdf) Occupational Stress, Burnout And Coping In Police Personnel: Findings From A Systematic Review
This could foretell a possible future where the rate of mental illness among officers will rise due to the changing expectations and dangers of their job.
It is difficult, if not impossible, to predict how these new factors will affect police officers and their mental health. But there are hints that this might not be a good thing.
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Articles and articles community academy and penelite academy yang terus tumbuh more than 167,600 to 4,666 times. Read on to learn about the mental health issues facing police and the importance of raising awareness in the criminal justice system.
The Impact Of Mindfulness For Police Officers
The mental health of law enforcement officers has long been neglected. Statistics always confirm this fact, painting a bleak picture of the current state of those sworn to protect and serve entire communities.
While being a police officer can be rewarding, it can also be mentally taxing. With every task comes the opportunity to see something that might cause concern. Child abuse, suicide, domestic violence, officer-involved shootings, and more can be a regular part of the job. It wears off over time.
Whether you work in law enforcement, the courts, or corrections, understanding the challenges police officers face is critical to deepening your impact. Learn about some of these issues and the importance of raising awareness.
Police officers report significantly higher rates of depression, burnout, PTSD, and anxiety than the general population, according to the latest law enforcement statistics from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). In addition, nearly 25% of police officers had suicidal thoughts at least once in their lives.
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The suicide rate among law enforcement officers is one of the most disturbing statistics published by the US. Not only do more police officers die by suicide than in the line of duty, but the rate is more than triple the national average for those serving in the smallest departments. And if we compare with firefighters, the police suicide rate was four times higher.
Completing the necessary tasks is essential to achieve effective performance
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