Page 43 - Top Cover Issue 9

TOP COVER ISSUE 9 43

FEATURE

HEALTHY

STRATEGIES FOR

PSYCHOLOGICAL

WELL-BEING

WRITTEN BY CLAIRE MCDOWALL
WWW.SAFEHORIZON.CO.UK

some cases having to advocate for the Officer because they are those in authority “do what’s right” and avoid betrayal of those
vulnerable, have difficulty with memory and confusion and they have a duty to care for. 2
because discussing work matters can exacerbate their symptoms, Research overwhelmingly supports the fact that the actions
particularly anger or rage. and behaviour of the organisation and those with authority,
It is by no means a given that Police Officers will develop full where benevolent, can protect Officers against PTSD or where
diagnostic PTSD and research has not been able to determine a malevolent, be the most significant instigator of its development.
particular personality type or personal history to account for why PTSD is not the result of a personal defect or weakness. People
some people are more susceptible than others. I would certainly who have strong beliefs about right from wrong and justice,
who have genuine compassion for victims of crime, most likely
to be first on the scene and first through the door, have a ‘can
do’ attitude, protect colleagues before caring for themselves and
PTSD is not the result of a personal tend to stay in front line roles can become saturated by incidents.
Moral injury in conjunction with PTSD or secondary traumatic
defect or weakness. stress can be the tipping point. Organisations should not fear a
deluge of applications for adjustments or ill health retirement
when Officers are made aware of PTSD and the signs and
symptoms.
‘Providing educational materials and raising awareness about
say that long service in mainly front line policing roles increases post incident reactions does not increase the number of symptoms
the risk. However, much can be implemented by organisations to reported’ (Mitchell et al., 2000). 3
reduce the risk including educating Officers on PTSD, vicarious A mindful, respectful, supportive and equitable constabulary
traumatization, secondary traumatic stress and compassion and police authority could reduce the number of applications for
fatigue. This can result in prevention, lessen the impact of ill health retirement and injury on duty awards, reduce sickness
symptoms, encourage early intervention and treatment and absence levels, increase the effectiveness and commitment of its
improve the likelihood of recovery. workforce and promote healthy family life ■
‘Work environment factors such as dissatisfaction with
organizational support predicted PTSD symptoms in Police
Officers’ (Carlier et al., 1997). 1 1 Carlier et al., 1997, King et.al, 1995: cited in Maguen et al., 2009, Routine work
King et al. (1995)says a malevolent work environment is the environment stress and PTSD symptoms in Police Officers, Journal of Nervous and
strongest precursor to post-traumatic symptoms over and above Mental Disease, 197(10), 754-760
combat, threat and atrocities. Threat to life has less effect on post- 2 Shay, J., (2003), Achilles in Vietnam: Combat Trauma and The Undoing Of
trauma symptoms than other occupational and environmental Character (First ed.). New York, U.S.A: Scribner.
factors (Maguen et al., 2009) and Dr. Shay (the founder of ‘Moral 3 Mitchell et al., (2000), Managing Post Incident Reactions in the Police Service.
Injury’) says lifelong psychological injury can be prevented when Sudbury, Suffolk: HSE Books