Coping strategies for stress and trauma
Following a traumatic and/or stressful event, officers may experience a range of emotions including fear, confusion, shock, anger, and sadness. These emotions can come and go at unexpected times, making them difficult to manage. Therefore, it is important for families to be able to identify signs of stress and trauma, not only in their officers, but in themselves. Intervention before these stressors lead to significant mental health challenges is critical, as is providing policing families with strategies to help them prepare for, cope with, provide support, and remain resilient in the face of these kinds of events.
Resources:
Resilience Strategies for Law Enforcement Families
Supporting Law Enforcement Families in Understanding Trauma
Overcoming Cumulative Stress and Burnout
Identifying and Managing Anxiety in Law Enforcement Officers
Resilience: Keys to Helping Law Enforcement Children Thrive
Peer support
Policing professionals experience traumatic and stressful events as a part of their day-to-day life on duty. Family members may also be affected by the unique challenges of a life in law enforcement. They may find it difficult to navigate situations such as connecting with their officer, establishing an open line of communication, and managing their own fears about their officer’s job responsibilities and safety. Due to these experiences, it is important for families to have an outlet to discuss their experiences and emotions. Peer support gives them that outlet to share their concerns and struggles with people who are going through similar situations, benefiting their mental health and their relationship with their officer.
Resources:
How to Start a Law Enforcement Family Support Group
Creating an Online Support Group: Digitally Connecting Officer Families
Suicide Prevention
Police officers have a higher rate and risk of suicide compared to the general population. Families are often the first to notice the signs when their officer is struggling with their mental health or may be at risk of a suicide attempt. Therefore, it is crucial that families know what resources are available to their officers and that they have the tools and support they need to have those difficult conversations with them as soon as they see the warning signs.
Getting Help
If you are feeling suicidal, thinking about hurting yourself, or are concerned that someone you know may be in danger of hurting himself or herself, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and is completely confidential. Other 24/7 resources are included here:
National Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 9-8-8
COP LINE 1-800-267-5463 (1-800-COPLINE)
Crisis Text Line Text HOME to 741741
Safe Call Now (206) 459-3020
Cop 2 Cop 1-866-COP-2COP (1-866-267-2267)