Police officers are among our nation’s strongest public servants and often have an ability to bear a great deal more than the average citizen. But they face an accumulation of stress from witnessing car crashes, responding to homicides, suicides, domestic violence, child abuse and countless other challenging situations. Many officers face traumatic incidents in their day-to-day work that can lead to depression, PTSD, thoughts of suicide and other mental health conditions. Officers’ families also experience trauma, isolation and fear because of their loved ones’ line of work. Often these challenges go unacknowledged or are misunderstood. But more and more officers are sharing their stories and speaking out about how these conditions affect them, and how it is possible to recover and continue in their work.
NAMI, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), recently released the report Preparing for the Unimaginable: How chiefs can safeguard officer mental health before and after mass casualty events. The report serves as a roadmap to help law enforcement agencies plan to manage officer wellness in the aftermath of a tragedy, from dealing with the media to coordinating with other agencies around mental health. While developing the report, NAMI found that while mass casualty events are often a cause of mental health concerns, the greater challenge is the unaddressed traumas of day-to-day policing.
Join us for a webinar on Tuesday, Dec. 13 from 2:00-3:30 p.m. Eastern to hear personal stories from police officers and family members who have lived through tragedy and overcome challenges—and who found hope and healing through addressing their mental health needs.
Register here!
Speakers:
Mark DiBona is a deputy sheriff with the Seminole County Sheriff’s Department in central Florida. He is also the director of The Badge of Life, a nonprofit dedicated to lessening the impact of stress and trauma on police officers and retirees.
Lori Kehoe is a former hospice nurse and advocate for her adult son with special needs. She is the wife of Michael Kehoe, the retired chief of police who oversaw the law enforcement response to the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting in Newtown, CT.
Laura Usher is NAMI’s senior manager for criminal justice and advocacy, and served as project director for the development of Preparing for the Unimaginable.
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