Mental health has been an important topic in law enforcement for the last several years. Wellness policies, peer support teams, mental health professionals, and critical incident debriefs, among other measures, are becoming increasingly common.

Approximately two to three times as many officers kill themselves than are killed in the line of duty.¹ In 2021, there were 138 reported officer suicides.² Considering many are unreported, the true statistic may be higher. With various agency policies, procedures, and wellness options in place, how are so many officers still being lost to suicide?

One concern is the lack of focus on communication and training with law enforcement families. Officers are adept at hiding their emotions and pretending everything is fine, and they may not ask for help. They thrive on responding to calls, staying busy, and controlling situations while on duty. It is difficult when officers cannot control their own lives, and they tend to hide it. An officer could be facing demons internally, and no one at work may notice. So, who would?

Family

Friends and family are the first to notice when their loved one changes. Some behavioral concerns could include drinking too much, having interrupted or insufficient sleep patterns, experiencing flashbacks, lacking a social life or hobbies, or becoming angry and detached. As such, an officer’s family should be included in the agency’s mental health training.

Officers change as they progress through their career — it is unreasonable to expect otherwise. While the average person experiences about two or three critical incidents or traumatic events in their lifetime, an officer could encounter up to 180 during their tenure.³

One behavioral scientist who studies law enforcement describes officers at work as hypervigilant, saying they are “alive, alert, energetic, involved, and humorous.” He states they are the opposite at home — “tired, detached, isolated, and apathetic.”⁴

This, along with everything else officers deal with at work and in their personal lives, can lead to unhappy and, eventually, even broken homes. The statistics are not universally agreed upon, but some show the divorce rate in law enforcement can be as high as 75%.⁵

Officers do not always take care of their families by educating them on how they can empathize and help.

Suggestions

Involving law enforcement families in agency events, discussions, and training will help them better understand the officer’s behavioral changes, police work, and potentially how to help save their loved one’s life.

Welcome Event

When officers are sworn in, an agency should host a family welcome dinner or event that involves a tour of the station. This event could include a discussion explaining to families the importance of wellness and a brief overview of some changes they may see as the officers begin their career.

Wellness Resources

Officers should educate their families on wellness and explain that the agency’s wellness incentives are for their benefit as well. A department resource guide that shows what is offered and how to reach out is recommended. Such incentives include employee assistance, peer support, mental health providers, insurance, and chaplains.

Additionally, various self-help books can assist police families in navigating the emotional difficulties associated with having a family member in law enforcement.⁶

Wellness Class

Each year during officer resiliency and wellness training, the agency should offer a separate class for families. Topics presented could include suicide prevention, warning signs, resources, positive psychology, and finances.

Family Events

Routinely holding department-sponsored family events is imperative. Officers’ children do not get to see their parent at work or the place that takes up so much of their time and draws them away from sporting events and birthdays.

Kids can explore the agency or make a craft to give their parent, all while in the company of other law enforcement children. A mental health provider can offer age-appropriate lessons with the kids. Other fun activities could include a cookout, games, and family photos.

Debriefs

Following a critical incident, line-of-duty death, or suicide, affected officers are typically debriefed. Their spouses or significant others should be invited to attend a separate debrief so they can share their concerns as well. Officers can remind their loved ones of common reactions after critical incidents, warning signs to look for, and available resources.

Updates on Legislation

Staying current on state legislation and laws is important. What happens if an officer needs inpatient treatment? What will happen to them and/or their job? Does their state have a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) bill where officers can get mental health help while staying employed and getting paid through workers’ compensation?

Conclusion

Officers should not face a choice to pick their career over their family. Instead, they are encouraged to develop a healthy lifestyle that incorporates their loved ones into their work.

Keeping officers alive and families intact requires collaboration. Officers die too often, and the people with the best stories and recollections of an officer are the community or agency and, unfortunately, not their spouses and children.

Law enforcement families chose to love the officer, not the career. They do not experience what their loved one does at work and how it affects him or her, so it is up to the officer and agency to help them understand.