Mental Health Archives

Police Chief Magazine|Topics|Mental Health

After the Call

It’s 2013 in the city of Louisville, Kentucky. A rookie cop gears up for the start of his shift. He’s working nights and loves it. Summer is the busy time of year. Really, the whole year is busy. ...

Officer Safety & Wellness

Uniformed police and security personnel in high‑visibility vests stand in a nighttime briefing outside a glass‑fronted building, with radios, helmets, city lights, and bridge reflections visible

Critical incident stress management (CISM) has long been recognized as a best practice in supporting first responders following exposure to traumatic or high-stress events. CISM emerged in the 1980s a...

Mental Health

A uniformed police officer kneels inside a residential room while two young children reach toward the officer’s shoulders, with hardwood floors, white walls, and doorways visible

Don’t Bring It Home

“Don’t bring it home” is one of the most common phrases exchanged among police officers and other first responders. It is offered with good intentions, often following particularly difficult cal...

Mental Health

Black‑and‑white composite image shows the U.S. Capitol at the end of an empty street blocked by a STOP barricade, overlaid with a seated figure seen from behind holding one hand to the head

He Did Not Want to Die

He did not want to die. He did not have to die. But, like so many officers over the years, he died by suicide. Howard “Howie” Liebengood was a 51-year-old, 15-year veteran of the United S...

Community-Police Engagement

Police officer in uniform stands beside light pink SUV, speaking to driver through open window on suburban street with leafless trees and buildings behind

Effective Sensory Bags for Safer Interactions

In the United States, 1 in 31 children eight years of age has autism spectrum disorder (ASD).1 ASD is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairments in social interaction and communication...

Officer Safety & Wellness

Nobody Fights Alone

Every day, police officers around the world encounter individuals in crisis. Unfortunately, some of these individuals are military veterans suffering from unique challenges associated with their servi...

Mental Health

Strengthening the Shield

Being a police officer can be a demanding and difficult job. In fact, police officers are often exposed to stressful situations while on duty. These situations include, but are not limited to, dangero...

Mental Health

A person is sitting on a white couch with a golden retriever lying beside them. The person is wearing a black hoodie, gray sweatpants, and reflective sunglasses. The golden retriever appears relaxed with its head resting on the person's lap. There is another armchair to the left of the couch, and in the background, there are dark-colored cabinets with labels including one that reads "JUNK DRAWER." A blue blanket or sheet is partially visible at the bottom of the image.

Fight or Flight in Overdrive

Across the landscape of police wellness, there is a critical missing piece when it comes to supporting those who serve and protect. The missing piece is this: Just as multiple head injuries cre...