Research consistently suggests that law enforcement officers are at a higher risk of experiencing anxiety, acute and posttraumatic stress, and depression than individuals in other professions. In turn, these psychological factors have been found to have serious effects on the mental well-being, physical health, and life span of officers.1 In recent years, several steps have been taken to “end the silence” surrounding the mental health and wellness of law enforcement officers.2 In 2015, the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing highlighted officer safety and wellness as one of the six pillars for policing. In its final report, the task force recommended the promotion of officer wellness at all levels of law enforcement. More recently, the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act, passed into U.S. law in 2018, has supported the expansion of wellness services across federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies.3
At the organizational level, law enforcement agencies implement a broad continuum of officer mental health and wellness policies and programs. These efforts range from providing officers access to information on mental health resources to the use of annual mental health wellness checks, in-service training, peer support initiatives, and psychological services.4 While this emphasis on officer wellness across the field of policing is encouraging, it is essential to consider whether these efforts are based upon research and evidence about “what works” in enhancing officer mental health outcomes.5 Similar to other areas in policing, the design and implementation of policies and programs for officer wellness should be based on evidence.
Evidence-Based Lessons
Research evaluating the impact of mental health and wellness programs on law enforcement officers is limited. Therefore, the effectiveness of specific mental wellness programs is mostly unknown.6 Still, general studies of mental health interventions (in non–law enforcement settings) suggest that programs created to facilitate mental health and wellness in the workplace can have important physiological (e.g., lower blood pressure, weight loss, improved heart health); psychological (e.g., decreased stress, depression, and anxiety); and behavioral (e.g., enhanced interpersonal skills and improved work performance) effects.7
Combined with evaluations from the fields of psychology and medicine, the available law enforcement–focused research highlights several valuable lessons to be considered in the development and use of officer wellness initiatives.
Communication Is Key: It is recommended that leaders, supervisors, and trainers regularly discuss officer mental health during training, roll call, and squad discussions. Officers should be provided with information on topics related to mental health and wellness and available programs and services. Enhancing officers’ knowledge in these areas could increase their willingness to access resources.8
Labels Matter: Law enforcement agencies should take care in how they present programs targeting mental health. Research suggests that labels, communication, and approach can affect officer receptivity to programs. Officers might be more open to programs labeled as “wellness” rather than “stress management” or “treatment.”9
Importance of Social Support: Research consistently identifies social support—perceptions that one is cared for, has assistance available from other people, and is part of a social network—as a critical protective factor against acute stress, including posttraumatic stress.10 Although limited evidence exists, peer support programs may improve officers’ feelings of social support and overall psychological well-being.
Enhancing Officer Resilience: Resilience training programs, based on psychological approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy, have shown success in enhancing mental health and wellness outcomes across different groups of people.11 Although evidence on training effectiveness in law enforcement settings is limited, programs based on similar techniques could enhance officer wellness.
Role of Officer Fatigue: Officer fatigue is closely linked to wellness, affecting stress, emotional exhaustion, and overall mental health. Research suggests law enforcement agencies should consider the impact of shift work on officer wellness and fatigue, as the length of a shift has important effects on physical and mental health, quality of life, and work performance.12
Treatment of PTSD: Effective treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder is known, and the American Psychiatric Association has issued guidelines for treatment.13 Although few research studies examine the impact of this treatment on law enforcement officers, there is some evidence for the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy.14
Promoting Evidence-Based Practices for Officer Wellness
Although officer mental health and wellness programs are widely implemented, the effectiveness of those programs is mostly unknown. These programs represent much-needed efforts to support law enforcement; however, the selection of appropriate wellness initiatives appears to be based primarily upon anecdotal evidence and opinions about “best practices.” Therefore, a critical next step for the investment in officer mental health and wellness is the careful examination of which policies and programs are most effective in building a healthy workforce and aiding individual officers throughout their careers.
A significant source of information on program effectiveness can come from the agencies implementing these programs. Law enforcement agencies should monitor the use and impact of their officer wellness initiatives. As new wellness programs are implemented or changes to wellness-focused policies and training occur, law enforcement executives should consider how to evaluate the effects of these changes. Agencies should collect information in areas such as officer fatigue, health, and stress; analyze and test for the impact of wellness programs; and be willing to share their findings with the field. This work can answer questions about what types of programs and methods of program delivery are most appropriate; provide guidance for program improvement; and, ultimately, enhance efforts to ensure the overall health and wellness of those working in law enforcement agencies worldwide.🛡
Notes:
1 John M. Violanti, Dying for the Job: Police Work Exposure and Health (Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas Publisher, Ltd., 2014).
2 Miriam Heyman, Jeff Dill, and Robert Douglas, The Ruderman White Paper on Mental Health and Suicide in First Responders (Boston, MA: Ruderman Family Foundation, 2018).
3 Deborah L. Spence et al., Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act: Report to Congress (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, 2019).
4 Colleen Copple et al., Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Programs: Eleven Case Studies (Washington, DC: Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, 2019).
5 Lawrence W. Sherman, “The Rise of Evidence-Based Policing: Targeting, Testing, and Tracking,” Crime and Justice 42, no. 1 (2013): 377–451.
6 Peggy Grauwiler, Briana Barocas, and Linda G. Mills, “Police Peer Support Programs: Current Knowledge and Practice,” International Journal of Emergency Mental Health 10, no. 1 (2008): 27–38; Peter T. Haugen, Mark Evces, and Daniel S. Weiss. “Treating Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in First Responders: A Systematic Review,” Clinical Psychology Review 32, no. 5 (2012): 370–380; George T. Patterson, Irene W. Chung, and Philip W. Swan, “Stress Management Interventions for Police Officers and Recruits: A Meta-Analysis,” Journal of Experimental Criminology 10, no. 4 (2014): 487–513.
7 Kizzy M. Parks and Lisa A. Steelman, “Organizational Wellness Programs: A Meta-Analysis,” Journal of Occupational Health Psychology 13, no. 1 (2008): 58–68; Jac J. L. van der Klink et al., “The Benefits of Interventions for Work-Related Stress,” American Journal of Public Health 91, no. 2 (2001): 270–276.
8 Cynthia Lum et al., An Evidence-Assessment of the Recommendations of the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing: Implementation and Research Priorities (Fairfax, VA: Center for Evidence-Based Crime Policy, George Mason; Alexandria, VA: International Association of Chiefs of Police, 2016).
9 Lum et al., An Evidence-Assessment of the Recommendations of the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing.
10 Kristin E. Klimley, Vincent B. Van Hasselt, and Ashley M. Stripling, “Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Police, Firefighters, and Emergency Dispatchers,” Aggression and Violent Behavior 43 (November–December 2018): 33–44.
11 Adam J. Vanhove et al., “Can Resilience Be Developed at Work? A Meta-Analytic Review of Resilience-Building Programme Effectiveness,” Journal of Occupation and Organizational Psychology 89, no. 2 (2016): 278–307.
12 Karen L. Amendola et al., The Impact of Shift Length in Policing on Performance, Health, Quality of Life, Sleep Fatigues, and Extra-Duty Employment (Washington, DC: Police Foundation, 2011).
13 American Psychiatric Association, “What Is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder?” January 2017.
14 Berthold P.R. Gersons et al., “Randomized Clinical Trial of Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy for Police Officers with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder,” Journal of Traumatic Stress 13 no. 2 (2000): 333–347.
Please cite as:
Hannah D. McManus, “Officer Wellness Programs—Research Evidence and a Call to Action,” Focus on Officer Wellness, Police Chief (October 2019): 16–17.
