A Confidential Peer-Based Assistance Program for Police Officers

Dowling, Frank; Genet, Bill; Moynihan, Gene

doi:10.1176/appi.ps.56.7.870

Cited by 19 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…In some cases, these efforts have resulted in the referral of "struggling" investigators to Employee Assistance Programs or departmental psychologists or psychiatrists. This approach has been criticized for lacking the proactive focus on primary prevention of work-related stress reactions, adding to the multiple roles that departmental psychologists/psychiatrists already play, relying on a mental health-based response that may be unpalatable to some police personnel, and relegating high-risk investigators to a one-size-fits-all support program that may or may not recognize or understand the unique demands placed on these personnel by virtue of their assignment (Dowling et al 2005).…”

Section: Model Programs For Identifying and Responding To Stress And mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In response to these concerns and criticisms, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Assistance Program (SCLEAP) has adapted the Peer Support Program framework (IACP 2006;Morris et al 2001;Dowling et al 2005) to meet the needs of state and local law enforcement personnel engaged in the state's Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. While this Peer Support Team program is currently in its infancy, SCLEAP has assembled an initial team of twelve investigators and solicitors/attorneys who possess considerable credibility among their Task Force peers by virtue of their personal attributes and their professional experience in the arena of child exploitation and pornography.…”

Section: Model Programs For Identifying and Responding To Stress And mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is expected that this team will operate much like other peer-based assistance programs, in that it will offer confidential, voluntary, nondepartmental assistance to personnel struggling with personal or job-related stressors (Dowling et al 2005;Morris et al 2001). The provision of this support will be informed by the recognition that ICAC investigators face a cascade of cumulative stressors common to policing and unique to their assignment, exacerbated by repetitive exposure to disturbing images of their child victims.…”

Section: Model Programs For Identifying and Responding To Stress And mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Identifying and Managing Stress in Child Pornography and Child Exploitation Investigators

Krause

2009

J Police Crim Psych

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In the last decade, law enforcement personnel have increasingly been tasked to police the internet in an effort to staunch the production and distribution of child pornography and to investigate computer-facilitated child exploitation. These investigative personnel have encountered a range of assignment-specific challenges and strains as a result of their involvement in this taxing and novel investigative activity. In some cases, the cumulative effects of these strains, together with repeated exposure to highly disturbing images of abused children, have resulted in stress reactions that have commanded the attention of police managers and police psychologists alike. The present article is intended to provide an overview of the stresses unique to child exploitation and pornography investigations, common reactions to these stressors, procedural safeguards to mitigate the impact of this high-risk assignment, and two model programs designed to meet the needs of the current generation of "cyber cops".

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Section: Model Programs For Identifying and Responding To Stress And mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Model Programs For Identifying and Responding To Stress And mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Model Programs For Identifying and Responding To Stress And mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Identifying and Managing Stress in Child Pornography and Child Exploitation Investigators

Krause

2009

J Police Crim Psych

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“…Likewise, police officers appear to be more supportive of seeking mental health assistance (Levenson & Dwyer, 2000) but are still concerned with some of the consequences, such as confidentiality, as common knowledge of mental health conditions are seen as career threatening (Meyer, 2000). Dowling (2006) provides a caveat that for such willingness to increase participation, sources of occupational stigma and concerns must be addressed.…”

Section: Police Culture and Mental Health Stigmatisationmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘Break a Leg—It’s all in the mind’: Police Officers’ Attitudes towards Colleagues with Mental Health Issues

Bell¹,

Eski²

2015

Policing

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The theatrical saying 'break a leg' is one of luck. However, one of the authors, being a police officer and Police Federation representative and advocate for officers with ill (mental) health, often hears the words used in somewhat different, more macabre circumstances. 'Break a leg and you will get some sympathy, mention stress or depression and people think you are swinging the lead.' Most officers are reluctant to discuss the matter with colleagues as they fear there is a taboo associated with this type of illness. Often they are wary of informing line managers, which can delay support and potential interventions, and could subsequently, prevent the matter escalating. This paper will first and foremost raise awareness of the problematique of mental health issues and related stigmas that exist in the police profession. As shall become clear, there is insufficient research in this field, making a strong case for police forces and academics to work in tandem to better understand the issue and make recommendations to address this problem and possible salvations. As austerity measures bite further, now is an opportune time to ensure the police service and police officers are fit for purpose. This article suggests that it is essential that data is collected and analysed to discover, first of all, the extent of the problem, secondly, recognise and challenge the stereotypes and stigma associated with mental illness, and finally, develop and deliver training that addresses the cultural issues which prevents officers seeking appropriate assistance.

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“…In addition, officers providing support are given guidelines by mental health professionals from the department about how to give that support. Police officers support each other on the street without having to deal with any kind of negative consequences that may come after seeking mental health assistance following the department's internal procedures (Dowling et al, 2005(Dowling et al, , 2006. However, this is not only an urban police officers' tendency but even police officers in rural areas seek peer counseling support in order to reduce their stress and deal with their various mental health issues (Page & Jacobs, 2011).…”

Section: Recommendations For Pcst Applications In the Police Fieldmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conceptualizing Police Complex Spiral Trauma and its applications in the police field.

Papazoglou

2013

Traumatology

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The study of police officers' trauma through the police culture perspective reveals a unique form of trauma with biological, psychological, and sociocultural implications. The author presents an inclusive and dimensional theoretical conceptualization of police trauma, termed Police Complex Spiral Trauma (PCST), which constitutes a symbolic representation of the cumulative and complex form of police trauma that often expands as a unified process and form through time, tension, and frequency of police officers' multiple and potentially traumatic exposure during their lifelong career. This perspective of police trauma will help us better understand its distinct nature, inspire the formulation of research questions for an exploration of multifaceted evidence-based treatments that correspond to the challenges of police work, and develop relevant curricula for police trainees and preventive intervention policy programs.

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A Confidential Peer-Based Assistance Program for Police Officers

Cited by 19 publications

References 1 publication

Identifying and Managing Stress in Child Pornography and Child Exploitation Investigators

Identifying and Managing Stress in Child Pornography and Child Exploitation Investigators

‘Break a Leg—It’s all in the mind’: Police Officers’ Attitudes towards Colleagues with Mental Health Issues

Conceptualizing Police Complex Spiral Trauma and its applications in the police field.

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