One visit is a minimum, of course. If the officer
feels the need for more, or if more are recommended by the therapist, we hope they will take advantage of it.
The key is—we have a foot in the door! Once
they have entered the therapist’s office, they have gone farther than 95 percent of their predecessors.
Already, from polling cadet classes, we find a huge percentage that is already familiar with
therapy—through personal experience (divorces, family issues) or by knowing someone close who has. They see it as a “positive.”
Q.
I don’t want to see a departmental therapist.
A. You don’t have to. Many departments offer free counseling through “employee counseling services” that are confidential. If you are uncomfortable with those as well, go through your own health plan.
Q.
What if I don’t think I need it?
A. Think of it as preventative, like getting
your teeth cleaned every year or getting a physical exam.
Q.
How will I introduce myself?
A. Simply, truthfully. As a police officer with one or 20 years experience who wishes to discuss some incidents that have disturbed
you.
Q.
So what if no incidents are “disturbing” me?
A. That’s fine. Simply point out to the therapist that you are in a high-stress occupation, that you are exposed to repeated
trauma, and you wish to discuss your experiences and how they may be affecting you.
Remember, cumulative PTSD is killing many officers and the source problems are not always obvious. There may be a generalized anxiety, for example, that the officer is unaware of. Therapy is a journey of discovery. The reason for the “Prescription”
is to discover problems before they become crises. You may not pin down “the
problem” in one visit, but therapists are trained to spot the need for additional therapy.
Q.
Shouldn’t I find a therapist knowledgable about cop work?
A. That’s up to you. You may find such a therapist has a quicker grasp of your issues.
Conversely, you may find a therapist with a clean slate has no preconceptions based on prior experiences. They are in the mental health business—you are in the
law enforcement business.
Q.
What if I refuse to go?
A. Some of you will. It’s your choice. For those of you who do go, certainly no harm will be done and, in all likelihood,
you will walk out with a few more tools to handle the next year and feel reassurred.
Daniel L. Cameron, a retired CHP officer with an MA in athletic training, made a novel comparison.
Upon hearing of the MHP program, he responded, "Remember back to when you learned how to ride a bike, play ball, learned to shoot and write
reports. Before you were taught to do this stuff you didn't really know how to do it. You may of had an idea, but until someone
showed you how to do it properly, you didn't really know how to do it.
"Going to see
a counselor is exactly like this. These folks are trained on what to look for and how to treat it. Just like going to your
doctor when you have an injury, or hiring a personal coach to teach you how to do something better, these folks just help
you be you. No stigma for hiring a baseball coach, a riding coach, taking classes from a teacher, etc, so there shouldn't
be any stigma for seeing a counselor. This is just someone 'Checking my swing' and making sure 'I have the correct grip
on the bat' type of thing. It's actually pretty cool!"
_________________________
One retired officer responded, "This is just someone 'Checking my swing' and making sure 'I have the correct
grip on the bat' type of thing. It's actually pretty cool!"
_________________________
WHY IT WORKS:
Departments with and without suicide prevention programs continue to experience suicides at
an unacceptable rate. The Los Angeles Police Department, held up by many as a model because they long ago hired
a staff of 19 psychologists "to provide training for Department personnel on topics
such as Stress management, suicide prevention, and anger management" recently admitted it still has a major problem, with
19 suicides in 9 years. Out of desperation, they are now bringing in a “public
relations firm”—another floundering, expensive shot in the dark. According to another report, suicides among
San Diego Police officers are even worse
than those of Los Angeles.
As noted researcher John Violanti noted, “From the very first day in the police academy, recruit officers are told
that they are someone unique, far different from the average person and certainly beyond psychological harm.” In some respects, he points out, this is akin to the "adolescent invulnerability" that is quickly demolished
by life experience.
What is problematic is that this veneer of vulnerability is shattered quickly on the road,
making academy preparation such as we propose all the more crucial.
"I see [the Mental Health Prescription] as a possible useful tool in the prevention
of fully developed PTSD and possible maladaptive coping among police officers. In a sense," says Violanti, "it is “inoculation”
against future psychological problems. Given the stress and strain associated with police work, such an endeavor is well worth
the time invested by departments."
By implementing and encouraging the "Mental Health Prescription," we
aren't waiting for Humpty-Dumpty to fall. We aren't even waiting for "warning signs" that he's teetering.
We make sure the officer stands on solid footing from "Day One," is mindful of the dangers of psychological trauma,
and is both comfortable and ready to deal with it long before it even occurs.
