Description
Law enforcement agencies will benefit from implementing a critical incident stress management team. Many law enforcement officers will deal with internal and external stressors that will have a multitude of effects on them physically, mentally and
emotionally. Post traumatic stress disorder, also known as PTSD, is a very common phrase affiliated with police officers in today’s time. Much of this is attributed to a traumatic event or events that a law enforcement officer will experience. Some officers will abuse alcohol or drugs to help overcome their situation while others will commit suicide.
Having a CISM support team will allow police officers to speak with someone that they feel they can trust as it is very uncommon to trust anyone outside the thin blue line. It allows law enforcement officers to vent to someone other than an outsider or someone they just meant. This will lead to a greater chance of success in helping these officers.
Having a critical incident stress management team will help officers recognize stress symptoms and provide strategies on how to manage them. This will either help in preventing PTSD or learning how to manage it better if diagnosed with it. But most importantly, it will help in preventing officer suicides.
