Occupation under siege: Resolving mental health crises in police work

ABSTRACT

The book is based on research associated with police mental health together with the subsequent effects on officer's performance, physical health, and lifestyle. It outlines the current challenges face by police, increased civil unrest, negative public reactions, and a biological siege brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. These events have caused personnel shortages, long work hours, and psychological and physical assaults upon the police. The book turns to the present mental health status of police officers. Posttraumatic Stress (PTSD) and depression appear to be prevalent in police. Police officers are repeatedly exposed to traumatic situations including motor vehicle accidents, armed conflicts, and witnessing violent death across their working lives. Depression and PTSD are often found together in officers. Several studies on police have found the prevalence of depression to be approximately 12% which is nearly twice as high as the general population. Both depression and PTSD promote poor health through a complex interaction between biological and psychological mechanisms. In today's societal and politically conflicted environment, the police are caught between the requirements of the job and the ability to fulfill these requirements. The book discusses the effects of police stress and trauma on physical health. The stress and trauma that police face can eventually wear down the body's defense against disease. The book discusses resilience and its role in ameliorating stress. Resilience is simply defined as bouncing back from adversity. There are, however, many dimensions of resiliency to consider. The book asks the question, "Where do we go from here?" It also discusses current legislation which will help police deal with the problem of psychological, physical health, and suicide. The book will help researchers and those dedicated officers who go out every day and "drive and walk the beat". It is those officers who bear the brunt of policing. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)