Introduction Law enforcement personnel are often confronted with a wide range of challenges in the course of their duties. These challenges may include exposure to high-stress situations, trauma, and emotional instability, all of which can have a significant impact on their mental health and overall well-being. As such, it is crucial to explore the concept of emotional survival for law enforcement officials and identify strategies and practices that can help them maintain mental resilience in the face of adversity. The purpose of this paper is to examine the concept of emotional survival for law enforcement personnel and provide essential insights into strategies and practices that can help them maintain their mental health and well-being. By providing a comprehensive understanding of this concept, this paper aims to offer practical guidance to law enforcement officials who are seeking to improve their overall emotional resilience. …show more content…
These stressors range from exposure to traumatic incidents, working long hours, and the constant risk of injury or death, to the pressure of making quick decisions in high-stress situations. In addition, they experience stress from public scrutiny, demanding job responsibilities, and interpersonal conflicts. It is crucial to address the psychological impact of policing on law enforcement officers to promote their overall wellbeing and effectiveness. This piece explores the concept of emotional survival for police professionals and offers scientifically backed techniques to cultivate mental toughness. The law enforcement officer's exertion can also be due to stress, officers are expected to NOT be heartless but also use their heart less. Also, family is a crucial aspect of life and neglecting it due to busy schedules can lead to
Gilmartin begins by describing the typical rookie officer. Most are energetic, idealistic, enthusiastic and very driven. Quickly this enthusiasm can change from one of positivity to one that is very cynical and emotionally charged. These behaviors and thoughts over time if not corrected become exacerbated leading to noticeable mental and physical changes. The author, Gilmartin, uses personal experiences and other real life stories effectively so that many officers can relate and identify with the topic of the book.
Police Psychology: A New Specialty and New Challenges for Men and Women in Blue. Thomas, David J. 2011.
Vila, B., Kenney, D., Morrison, G. B., and Reuland, M. (2000, August 28). Evaluating the Effects of Fatigue On Police Patrol Officers: Final Report. U.S. Department of Justice. Retrieved on December 7, 2013 from
Correctional institutions are unique work settings because of the unpredictable nature of their physical environment and clientele. Correctional officers are responsible for supervising individuals whom are held against their will. The correctional officer’s main focus is that of security within the institution and for the community. However, they are typically faced with a limited amount of resources and thus must assume these responsibilities without adequate support. The relationship between work resources and job stress indicates that correctional work settings that emphasize involvement, coworker cohesion and managerial support can decrease stress levels (Waters, 1999). Unfortunately, this is a rather uncommon occurrence, leaving correctional officers to face stressors without proper intervention due to fear of stigmatization. Within law enforcement, those individuals who access “mental health” services are labeled as and treated similarly (Aredondo, Shumway, Kimball, Dersch, Morelock, 2002). However, research on effective ways to prevent or reduce the physical and psychological effects of the high levels of stress correctional officers face on a daily basis is limited and a rather new phenomenon. This literature review examines the reasons for correctional officer stress, the implications of such stress, and interventions that are being put in place to combat the consequences of such stress.
the psychological health of police, fire, and ambulance officers.” International Journal of Stress Management, Vol. 11, pp. 227-44.
Police stress is viewed as a structural problem that is amongst the police culture (Kappeler & Potter, 2005). The argument made is that the working environment causes the stress. Even though a police officers job is not as dangerous officers still determine the danger as a source of stress. Police stress can be split up in to three sources: occupation, job-related and external stress (Kappeler & Potter, 2005). Just the thought of the job gives officers stress. Job-related circumstances such as responding to calls can also create stress. Finally, external sources such as personal stress can all lead to an officer being highly
Some of the world’s most-loved and well-known superheroes include Superman, Batman, and Spiderman. However great these superheroes may appear, their fictional stories also include stressors that they face everyday, such as the villains that they encounter and the pressure of being a hero and an everyday citizen. In this way, stress often negatively impacts the lives of the ones who watch over every neighborhood, every street, and every house. Such is the job of a police officer. Because stress has become an important topic in the community of law enforcement, things that are commonly discussed are the causes of stress, the effects of stress, and the handling of stress in the lives of police officers.
Everyday law enforcement personal have the possibility to face dangerous events in their daily duties. In performing such duties a police officer could come by a seemingly ordinary task, and in a blink of an eye the event can turn threatening and possible deadly. When or if this happens to an officer they won’t have
One solution that the Tennessee Highway patrol use is the Critical Stress Debriefing Solution. Research has told us over time that law enforcement officer’s emergency personnel that have been involved and associated with serious traumatic events experience much more stress than that of the public in general (Addis & Stephens, 2008, p.361). This solution is popular among law enforcement officers and consists of a multi phase small group setting workplace supportive type intervention. It should be stated that the Critical Incident Stress debriefing hereon, known as CISD, does not comprise a form of psychotherapy. CISD is a complete, crisis intervention system.
Corrections work is made for special people. “Corrections officers suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder at more than double the rate of military veterans in the US” (Lisitsina, 2015). This is an astonishing thought knowing what war is like across the world and the impact it has on our soldiers. This knowledge makes it difficult on new corrections officers heading into their new positions in jails and prisons. PTSD is a major health problem that can lead to suicide. A study, “found that corrections officers have a suicide rate that is twice as high as the rate of police officers and the general population” (Pitarro, 2017). When officers are put in high stress positions they also become, “less effective at their jobs and they are more likely to display withdrawal symptoms of increased absenteeism, tardiness, and an anticipation of turnover” (Tewksbury and Higgins, 2006). Needless to say, the job can lead to a series of mental health issues and consequences for the officers, which puts them at
Police wellness does not pertain only to an officer’s physical well-being, but rather, it is a combination of mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Correctional officers endure various levels of stress along with numerous other factors as they accumulate years of experience in the profession. According to McDonough, “A physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually healthy workforce offers the best opportunity for mission completion”. McDonough emphasized the implementation of an employee wellness plan (EWP), in law enforcement agencies and stressed police management to develop a plan that benefits both the officer and organization. The employee wellness plan is crucial in all four stages of an officer’s career: recruitment, field training, active duty officers, and pre-retirement and beyond (McDonough, 2011).
To protect the public, law enforcement officers must be psychologically competent to fulfill the obligations of the position. This research is significant because there are officers with
Since the inception of this niche in psychology, there has been a greater appreciation for the use of police psychological services. Now almost every police department has a separate psychology department with a number of psychologists working with its other employees. This specialized subset of psychology delivers a number of services to its employees, from assessing qualified applicants, counseling, to suspect profiling and providing expertise during hostage situations. The field has grown tremendously, especially over the last 40 years and has developed into its own sub-specialty with its own dedicated research, journals and professional organizations. During that time, there have been great strides made in developing this relationship betwe...
The potential for physical debilitation, mental trauma and even death is a constant stressor for law enforcement agencies and individuals. The evolution of police work has demanded that the individual engaged is physically, mentally, and emotionally prepared to handle the hazards of the job. The processes used in the selection of potential police
Their bodies are always under stress physically and mentally. They are forced to remember tragic event. The second stressful job is a police officer. Police are always getting hate for doing their job. Good police officers that are trying to just do their job, but bad police officers must ruin it.