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Working as a first responder has been identified as one of the few occupations where individuals are repeatedly placed in high stress and high-risk situations. Identified first responders include police officers, firefighters, search and rescue personnel, and ambulance personnel (Haugen et al., 2017; Karaffa and Tochkov, 2013; Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act, 2017). Specifically, police officers encounter dangerous situations and risk their lives as a component of their jobs. Officers who experience elevated levels of stress have an increased risk of mental health consequences, particularly depression, anxiety, burnout, somatization and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Gershon et al., 2009; Kleim and Westphal, 2011). According to Haugen et al. (2017), “Research has shown that these stressful work conditions are associated with the development of new mental health conditions and exacerbation of pre-existing mental health conditions” (p. 219). The demanding conditions suggest distress and impairment in responders such as “at-work productivity loss, early retirement, alcohol abuse, divorce, and increased rates of suicide” (Haugen et al., 2017, p. 219).
Although society recognizes the impact of routine exposure to stressful work conditions and the development of mental health conditions, there are still barriers that prevent police officers from seeking treatment. A vast majority of research suggests barriers include difficulties in pursuing or delaying treatment, not fully emerging in treatment regimens, not receiving suitable care and never identifying mental health symptoms (Andrade et al., 2014). This research has progressed in two primary areas; identifying police officer trauma-related mental health and the stigma behind seeking mental health treatment. This research also strongly suggests the need for early intervention to help build resiliency and wellness for law enforcement officers. In addition, this study can serve as a resource for those interested in identifying gaps in police officers’ mental health and advancing the landscape of research in this underrepresented area.
Methods
A systematic search of literature was conducted using keywords and a combination of descriptors related to police officer (“police officer,” “first responder,” “law enforcement”), mental health stigma (“mental health,” “barriers,” “police mental health stigma”), and intervention (“traumatic experiences treatment,” “long-term trauma treatment,” “technological treatment,” and “innovative trauma treatment”). The search was conducted using academic databases: EBSCO Host, Criminal Justice Abstracts, Proquest Criminal Justice Database, JSTOR, APA PsycNET...