Mental Health Archives

Police Chief Magazine|Topics|Mental Health

Uniformed officers in light blue shirts gather inside an event hall, with shoulder patches, radios, red epaulets, flags, chairs, and a bridge mural

The Cost of Drift

Police agencies across the United States are operating in one of the most difficult hiring environments in recent memory. Departments are competing for the same limited pool of applicants while being ...

Officer Safety & Wellness

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

Beyond the Debriefing

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...