OFFICER WELLNESS PROGRAMS.

OFFICER WELLNESS PROGRAMS.

Introduction.

When an officer is out in the streets while on duty, they must take control of everything about their job. It is, therefore, mandatory to turn off their feelings while they know they can rely on their partners in a tough situation. The implication is that they should be well mentally, physically, and psychologically. However, officers with issues that could affect their jobs in most cases, fear being perceived as weak or out of control and therefore end up being concerned in the long run. To curb this problem, we require a multi-faceted approach for officer wellness, which can bring the programs to the cops directly. In this paper, we shall address this culture and outline ways that could help us curb it. In the literature, we shall also mention and compare various officer wellness program. Also, we shall outline the importance of officer wellness.

Methods of ensuring officer wellness

The first method is bringing the wellness programs to the officer as to when the crisis faces them. It quite rare for them to ask for help. The reason for not asking for help emanates from the fact that they fear the stigma of being seen as weak in handling personal problems. It is, therefore, upon the police leaders to take help to the officers. It can be achieved through designing PST to make a follow up on officers for some days after a critical occurrence. Also, agencies should be responsible for implementing mandatory policies for officer wellness checkups after six months.

Secondly, it is essential to note that the brain is an organ that learns continuously. Exposure of an individual to traumatic experiences changes the brain’s neural structure. It is crucial to attend to these officers’ emotional needs after a traumatic to avoid the buildup of stress. Agencies should, therefore, offer meditation classes and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, which could cure the officers’ physical brain.

Another way the department can aid officers with the fear of asking for help is through recognizing facts that entail police suicides.  Suicides have been on the hike in the recent past even though not all officer suicides are job-related. It is important to note that these officers have ready access to weapons, which makes the suicide acts remain high among the officers. The rates of suicides can be minimized by providing crisis hotline numbers, which could aid a band. It could be of great help because, during these challenging moments, officers do not perceive whether someone can help them. Besides, suicide education could be offered to put an end stigma of mental illness.

The officers should be taught the right surviving tactics at the beginning of the officer career. Resiliency classes can be offered when the officer is not on duty by the agency. Besides, the wellness programs should be made confidential separately from the evaluations showing if an officer is fit for duty. The agencies should be mandated to employ separate therapists for the two assessments to create an environment where the officers can freely share their concerns. It is quite achievable because federal grants funding the wellness programs are accessible via the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act of 2019.

Importantly, it’s essential to note that even in this century, it’s still hard for female officers to ask for assistance as they feel the urge to prove their worth in the law enforcement profession. In the process of trying to prove themselves, they may not want to be perceived as emotional or weak. Additionally, the leaders in the police department must create an environment where every officer feels valued regardless of their gender. Also, the agencies should change the criteria for administering officer wellness by bringing it to the office before the situation turns critical.

Comparison of officer Wellness programs

In this paper, we shall compare two wellness programs, namely; the Penn Resilience Program (PRP), and the VALOR officer safety and wellness program.  We begin with the initiatives of PRP and PERMA workshops, which is an evidence-based training program that has revealed a buildup of optimism, resilience, and well-being. The revealed characteristics are essential to officers as they equip them with practical skills set, which help them in overcoming adversity. Additionally, they aid officers in thriving both in their professional and personal lives through the management of stress. Another interchangeable name for PRP is the PERMA^TM Workshops.

On the other hand, the VALOR program uses multi-faceted criteria, which consists of; conducting research, delivering training at no cost, establishing partnerships beneficial to the law enforcement officers, and providing and developing resources. The program’s initiative is to enhance the immediate and long term wellness, safety, and resilience of the law enforcement officers. Additionally, the VALOR aims at aiding the enforcement officers to return home safely after every shift by ensuring their mental and physical preparedness. These concerns were stipulated based on intrinsic dangers and unique challenges faced by the officers.

The Destination Zero program is a collaborator of the officer wellness program. The Destination ZERO program functions to award law enforcement agencies, which enhance the wellness of officers on specific categories such as general officer safety, comprehensive safety, officer traffic safety, and officer wellness. In awarding the wellness program, the wellness programs become more active in providing wellness, thus ensuring law enforcement officers’ safety in the long run.

The target group and training criteria of the programs

PRP is customized to serve the goals, needs, and culture of an organization. The customization is achieved through online surveys, focus groups, and meetings. The program has instructors, developers, and experienced subject matters experts who deliver and customize programs about resilience. Additionally, the program is also composed of 21 empirically proven skills which target; self-regulation, optimism, connection, self-awareness, mental agility, and strengths of character. The teaching methods in PRP mostly consist of practices such as breakfast sessions where those participating have a chance to practice through exercises and receiving immediate feedback from instructors.

Training in VALOR is offered freely through the web-based education conclave and lively classrooms. Besides, the instructors in this program are also subject experts with experience devoted to the program’s mission.  The program challenges and inspires law enforcement officers to reengage with zeal to serve and protect. The training is usually a one or two days’ course, which entails insisting on the advantages of remaining vigilant, combating complacency, being mentally and physically prepared, and maintaining situational awareness. Unlike the PRP, VALOR is explicitly designed for the wellness of law enforcement officers only.

Training materials and topics in the programs

Through several years of empirical studies, it has been proven that PRP extends optimism and the well-being of an individual. Additionally, the program aids officers in improving their physical health. Also, the program assists the officers in refraining from substance abuse, thereby resulting in fewer cases of diagnosed mental illness. Finally, is has been found out that the program prevents and lessens conduct issues, depression, and anxiety. The program was designed to work with various individuals such as those in organizations like; military, government, law enforcement, and corporations.

In VALOR, much stress is laid on four leading killers of law enforcement, namely; vehicle safety, physical health, tactical safety, and mental wellness. The program equips law enforcement officers with tools to protect themselves and others, which may be within their watch. Additionally, the program insists on how paramount it is for law enforcement leaders and officers to stay safe and healthy.

Importance of officer wellness programs

A study of the counseling program of the police department in Chicago best depicts the importance of wellness programs. Firstly, the well-being of an individual can be enhanced through the utilization of mental health. An officer requires quite aware of his surroundings due to the constant exposure to chaotic situations and associations. The state of being in continuous unpredictable exposure deteriorates the homeostasis mode, thus risking the officers’ lives to stress, cardiac, circulatory related health issues. The outcome is that the officers opt for calming activities such as alcohol abuse. The wellness programs help in the prevention of such scenarios.

Secondly, wellness programs aid in the recovery of mental health illnesses. The mental health trauma could cost officers their lives through suicide. When one is faced with mental illness, especially the officers, they often opt not to seek help. However, officer wellness programs such as PRP, which brings support to the officers, the threat is curbed. Additionally, the wellness programs isolate the evaluations of wellness from being fit for the job result. By separating the officers feel at ease when expressing their state. Therefore, wellness programs are life and career-saving.

The programs also train leaders on how to handle officers with various issues, such as those with mental illness. The plans also teach on the kind of tone to use at work, which affects the morale of officers positively. With the workplace being quite conducive for the law enforcement officer keeps them in line and take the well-being wherever they go.

Conclusion.

The literature has shown various methods that can be used for the wellness of the officers. We have seen how we can solve the primary problem, which is the fact that officers do not ask for help and resolved that the aid should be taken before the situation gets out of hand. We have also shown the similarities and differences in PRP and VALOUR officer wellness programs. However, despite their differences, the plans could be used to complement one another as they are both geared towards ensuring general officer safety. The VALOUR program could, however, secure more awards in the Destination ZERO awards as it is wholesome in ensuring the well-being of law enforcement officers. Also, we have discussed the significant benefits of the wellness programs, where we have seen that these programs are quite essential for law enforcement officers.

References.

A 12-step approach to developing officer wellness programs. (2019, September 27). Retrieved from https://www.policeone.com/health-fitness/articles/how-to-assist-officers-in-crisis-jLxyzjkntufs1pfH/

Destination Zero. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://destinationzero.org/officer-wellness/

Home – VALOR for Blue. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.valorforblue.org/

IACP Quick Take: How a counseling service saves police lives. (2019, October 28). Retrieved from https://www.policeone.com/chiefs-sheriffs/articles/iacp-quick-take-how-a-counseling-service-saves-police-lives-5BjmgvOvEm3dzcvU/

Penn Resilience Program and PERMA™ Workshops. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://ppc.sas.upenn.edu/services/penn-resilience-training/