Breaking the Cycle: Normalizing Mental Health in Policing

The Associated Press recently published an eye-opening article titled, "The cumulative stress of policing has public safety consequences for law enforcement officers, too."1 It highlights a reality that police executives are all too familiar with. Over the past 40 years, studies on police mental health have revealed alarming statistics:

• One in four police officers screened positive for hazardous drinking.
• One in seven met the criteria for PTSD and depression.
• One in ten met the criteria for an anxiety disorder or suicidal thoughts.

These numbers are troubling, but perhaps even more concerning is the cultural challenge within our policing profession. As Arizona State University criminology expert Bill Terrill points out, police mental health programs often fall short due to "a historical attitude of taking care of yourself, not showing weakness, not reaching out for help, certainly not getting counseling."2

Read that again.

It's time to forge a new path forward.

In California, all police applicants are required to undergo a psychological screening. This experience is often their first and last interaction with a psychologist and a significant missed opportunity. At the City of Torrance, we're challenging this system by normalizing mental health as an integral part of professional development.

Meet Sarah.

Sarah is a new recruit who has passed her psychological screening and joined the Torrance Police Department. She has a challenging journey ahead to become a full-fledged police officer. Along the way, she'll receive support through coaching sessions with a psychologist at strategic milestones:

1. Pre-Academy Session: Sarah meets with a psychologist to discuss her expectations, goals, and concerns about the academy. She leaves feeling more confident and determined.
2. Post-Academy/Pre-Field Training Session: She reflects on her academy experience, discusses struggles and triumphs, and mentally prepares for the Field Training Officer Program.
3. Post-Field Training/Pre-Probationary Session: Sarah evaluates her field training experiences, identifying areas of growth and setting goals for her probationary period.
4. Post-Probationary Session: She reviews her probationary period, consolidating lessons learned, and addresses any lingering challenges. She's ready to go 10-8!

This pattern continues annually with open office hours at the police station, offering Sarah the opportunity for ongoing psychological coaching.

Ask yourself: Would a police officer like Sarah, who has regular, supportive interactions with a psychologist, be more likely to seek help than one whose only experience was a pre-employment screening?

I believe the answer is clear.

The time to remove the stigma surrounding mental health is at the very beginning of a policing career, not at the tragic end of a shattered one.

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1. Associated Press, "The Cumulative Stress of Policing Has Public Safety Consequences for Law Enforcement Officers, Too," AP News, October 8, 2024, https://apnews.com/article/police-lethal-restraint-stress-12cbfbac3f683fe6f43850463e56177c.
2. Associated Press, "The Cumulative Stress of Policing."