The mental health of law enforcement officers (LEO) is critical to the safety and well-being of the officers and the public they serve. However, LEO face significant on-the-job stressors that undermine mental health, and there is a lot to be learned about when and how LEO seek and enter mental health services. The present study sought to explore variables related to mental health seeking behavior, the role of social engagement and social pressure in the decision to seek mental health services, and the most common pathways into mental health utilized by LEO. A small sample of 86 LEO were recruited from the social media page of a law enforcement nonprofit support organization to take several self-report measures on past mental health service usage and intentions to seek future services, the Inventory of Attitudes Toward Seeking Mental Health Services, the Professional Quality of Life Survey, and a measure of social engagement on mental health topics. Results indicate that while a number of factors are associated with intentions to seek future services, the primary factor in past mental health seeking behavior was secondary traumatic stress. Those who sought mental health services reported higher social engagement and social pressure to seek help. LEO entered mental health services for a variety of reasons and through a variety of provider options, such that no one provider source was preferred. Though the present study was limited by a small sample size, reliance on self-report measures, and occurred during a time of civil unrest that sparked the “defund the police” movement, the results serve as a starting point for understanding the pathways into mental health services for LEO and the roles of secondary trauma and prior mental health service experience.

Police officers face many challenges in their profession. These challenges can impact an officer physically, mentally, and emotionally. Although male and female police officers face many of the same struggles within the profession, there are notable differences. Some challenges female police officers face more frequently are sexual discrimination, sexual harassment, and isolation which can cause stressors such as anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. As such, mental health services that are offered should take into consideration specific gender needs. This study examined the availability of mental health services for female police officers and their experiences when contemplating participation in such services. In this qualitative study, 10 female police officers were interviewed about their work experiences, mental health service needs, and the mental health services available to them. The data were thematically analyzed across participant responses. The interviews yielded various mental health service availability on a national level with no specific focus on gender needs.