THE BADGE OF LIFE

PROGRAM CONTENT

The Emotional Self-Care ESC) training must begin at the academies and continue, annually, not with a power point recitation of signs and symptoms to "watch for," but with serious discussions of personal care topics such as:

The differences between stress and trauma
The myths behind mental illness and suicide
The value and development of "resilience"
Critical and cumulative trauma
The "dirty little secrets" of law enforcement
The importance of annual, confidential therapy visits.

The Suicide Prevention component (signs and symptoms for officers to look out for and steps to take with a suicidal officer) would be taught as a separate block.

Here is why our two-pronged approach, so desperately needed in this 21st century:

1. ESC TRAINING trains all officers, cadet and veteran, in good mental health self-care, providing them the emotional tools and resources to face both work related trauma and personal issues before they get to the crisis point. A key element is voluntary "annual mental health checks" to review the past 12 months, enhance coping and resiliency skills, recognize their own vulnerabilities, and learn to live satisfying personal lives. This training doesn't stop after one session--it continues each year.

2. "SUICIDE PREVENTION" remains a departmental backup program (peer support, EAP) for the officer who still falls through the cracks and goes into crisis. It will happen.

We invite you to review our website and write or call us with any questions you may have. We are a collection of active and retired police officers from many agencies, as well as medical professionals, psychologists, therapists, researchers, and surviving family members of police suicide.

We believe that for every case of police suicide, there are thousands of other officers struggling to cope with the stresses and traumas of their careers, day after day, decade by decade. They don't kill themselves and most finish their careers, battle weary and scarred by their experiences. We have talked to too many retired officers complaining that they just don't know what it is that "bugs them," that keeps them on edge, hypervigilant, sleepless and anxious, often years after their retirement.

Our annual "vaccination," or "Prescription," is one of the key elements of Emotional Self-Care (ESC) training.. Were it visible, it could be added to the many weapons on an officer's belt. Like any of the other weapons an officer carries, it is a choice whether to use them or not.

Absurd as it sounds, an officer could, if assaulted, stand passive and not take advantage of any of the provided weapons to defend himself, physically. Similarly, an officer can refuse to use any of the tools we provide to defend himself, emotionally. No one is here to say an officer "must" see a therapist annually. It is a choice we offer positively and, for those who wish to argue against it, simply acknowledge that it's their right--just as it's their right to not brush their teeth or stay in good physical condition.

Like any of the other weapons an officer carries, it is a choice whether to use them or not. Absurd as it sounds, an officer could, if assaulted, stand passive and not take advantage of any of the provided weapons to defend himself, physically. Similarly, an officer can refuse to use any of the tools we provide to defend himself, emotionally. No one is here to say an officer "must" see a therapist annually.

The cadets now entering our academies are already familiar with the world of therapy--they have been exposed either directly, through a family member or with their families, or know someone who has. This is an exciting time when we can begin infusing police agencies with a whole new generation of officers, self-aware and open to taking advantage of what we offer them!

If your department is in need of a suicide prevention program, contact us and we can arrange a customized program just for you through Dr. John Violanti and the QPR Institute. A certified QPR trainer and expert in the field of police trauma and suicide, Dr. Violanti's two-day instructional program is law-enforcement focused and will certify you as a trainer that can then train additional trainers.