Breaking The Silence: Transforming Mental Health in Law Enforcement
- Police officers need to be taught about their own psychology and humanity to better handle the challenges they face and keep the public safe.
- Individuals should take proactive action and be active participants in their own mental health.
- The stigma surrounding mental health in law enforcement needs to be reduced to encourage officers to seek help.
- Lethal force decisions are complex and officers need more training and support to navigate these situations.
- Society needs to differentiate between non-culpable homicides and murder in cases of suicide by cop. Educating the public and police officers about the realities of police work can lead to better outcomes in incidents and help officers process traumatic experiences.
- The decision to use lethal force is a difficult one for officers, but they can find solace in knowing they are keeping their community safe.
- Incident commanders and leaders need to be prepared to make critical decisions, and training in instant command and critical thinking is crucial.
- Addressing mental health and wellness within police organizations is essential, as officers face higher rates of mental health disorders and suicide.
- Creating a culture that reduces stigma around mental health and encourages officers to seek help is important for their well-being and the well-being of the organization.
- Officers can develop healthy coping strategies and find meaning in their experiences to promote post-traumatic growth and resilience.
Chapters
Mark Bouchard grew up in Delta, and joined the Delta Police Department as a police officer in 2007, after a few years as a volunteer in the Delta Police Reserve Program. Mark worked primarily in patrol and on the Emergency Response Team, prior to his departure in 2020 for the RCMP. Since then, Mark has continued to work patrol and Emergency Response, until his recent promotion into the RCMP'S National Tactical Medicine Program. He has also completed a master's degree in leadership with a focus on police culture and the impacts on police officer mental health. Mark has combined his experiences and research into a book that he published on Amazon in 2023. It is called Setting My Sights on Stigma: Thoughts From an Injured Mind, where he shares what he learned as he recovered from his PTSD diagnosis, with a goal to help other people.
To listen to earlier episodes and subscribe, please go to: Google Podcasts | Apple Podcasts