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Mental health awareness helps with breaking the stigmatization surrounding mental health. Some things need to be stated for what they are. MENTAL ILLNESS IS NOT PERSONAL FAILURE. And MENTAL HEALTH IS HEALTH. I think these two statements are the foundation to understanding any and everything else regarding mental health. When mental health is seen like a broken foot and treated as such then we can get to the real work to help treat mental health. 

On Fridays on my LikedIn page I like to post polls. A week and half ago, I asked about the most common mental health diagnosis that law enforcement come in contact with. The results were….

• 47% Depression
• 26% Anxiety
• 16% Bipolar
• 11%  Schizophrenia

While these numbers are a good idea of what law enforcement is seeing, it is not a total picture for all departments. Oftentimes suicidal people get clumped into depression diagnoses but can be part of a completely different diagnosis. Anxiety is one of the most common mental health diagnoses but actually it’s least likely to be treated. Frequently, we hear “just get over it.” Well, if it was that easy don’t think they would just get over it?!?! Law enforcement comes in contact with those with bipolar and schizophrenia at a higher level because frequently these diagnoses have a history of acting out more behavioral and more inclined to be non-medication compliant and as result present more frequently in mental health crises needing immediate intervention which oftentime falls on to law enforcement.  

We need to move more now than ever from criticism and seeing mental illness as a weakness to being supportive. 57.7 million people in the United States have a mental health disorder and with the current state of affairs now and not to mention COVID it is not getting better. It has been suspected that mental health concerns have increased by 1.5 million people since the beginning of COVID. Adolescents and children are not immune either, with social restrictions, contact with peers and a lack of being able to get out and be kids is causing rates of anxiety and depression to skyrocket among adolescents and children. Pair this with the shortage of mental health professionals we are setting up for a full blown mental health crisis. 

Just as law enforcement is seeing a shortage of people who want to be police, the mental health field is seeing a shortage of professionals. It is not uncommon for waitlists and just difficulties in finding a provider that has availability. I think that one thing that COVID is doing is making it very clear that mental health is health and it is a REAL thing that needs treatments. 

What COVID has also made clear when there are no other options and things get bad people call the police for help. I suspect the needs for mental health are only going to increase and the police are called to fill those gaps even more. VIP Crisis Consultation is here to help police departments and non-profit/social service/mental health providers create programming to better meet the needs of those in mental health crisis.

Since May is Mental Health Awareness I think it is more than appropriate that this month I write about mental health. 

In 2018, I learned that Mundelein Police Department in Illinois began an officer wellness program. I integrated to learn that this department started mandating for officers to start meeting with a police psychologist once per year. However, in addition they gave officers access to a nutritionist which included a fitness exam and a financial planner. I personally thought that Mundelein Chief of Police Eric Guenther was on to something. I found this wellness plan was a step-out of the normal box. The goal of the program was to help reduce workers’ comp claims, use of force and citizen complaints. In my mind I was like finally a Chief of Police really gets it.  Think about it, officers are called to everyone’s worstest day. 

Historically, law enforcement has seen mental health concerns as a weakness. It takes a lot more law enforcement to seek help because they are called to help everyone else. Not to mention mental health requires some level of vulnerability which is oftentimes something officers are taught and trained to avoid because vulnerability equals weakness. Officers are taught how to handle things for everyone else but they are not taught how to handle their own stress. 

Mandating officers to see a police psychologist yearly does not mean it’s a fitness for duty or that something has to be wrong. Law enforcement officers have higher levels of suicide, alcholoism, and divorce plus additional medical issues. The goal is not for the department to find out what is happening in officers life but make sure the tools available as early as possible to prevent it from spilling in their work. The department ensure that officer’s confidentiality and only have contact with the police psychologist when their a risk to the themselves or a potential of sexual abuse to a minor.  The police psychologist is not limited to speaking with the officer about work but also about their person.  

Mundelein Police Department’s Chief of Police Eric Guenther put some really thought into policing and how to best achieve the goals being sought. More departments are complaining and even implicating similar programming. The community I live in Oak Park Police actually implicated similar programming based upon Mundelein Police Department program; however, the programming was exclusive to use of yearly “therapy” with police psychologists. I really think the total programming is much more effective than just the use of the mental health competent.

Think about nutrition for a minute. Brain development and even mental health is impacted by nutrition. Law enforcement officers frequently have to rely on unhealthy options such as fast food because of the nature of their job. Financial coaching is another issue for officers, the risk of harm and death daily could mean a family loses their means of survival. But also something that is not frequently considered is that law enforcement families frequently rely on one sole income due to the officer’s schedule. The more holistic the approach the better results. However, the implication of mental health programming is a great start.  

Now I will say that there is resistance to this programming. In Oak Park one of the trustees objected to programming because officer’s were provided mental health coverage with their health insurance. Also the idea of spending more money on law enforcement is something many communities are resistant to; not to mention with the current environment around law enforcement others will object. 

Personally, I think that law enforcement needs a little more attention and these are steps in the right direction to correct issues many that so many are desperately seeking to change.

This past week I wrapped up 2 courses from my PhD in Organizational Leadership. I will not lie that I don’t like Advanced Statistics however our final project of the semester left me wandering. I also wrapped up my class in Ethics which also left me with some lingering thoughts.

A major reason why I went into this program was because I wanted to learn more about effective leadership. My Advanced Statistics final project was a mock of my dissertation which is focusing on the influence of leadership within law enforcement and mental health stigmatization within the department. I got excited to actually study in-dept leadership within law enforcement. My last project in my Ethics class looked about how ethical leadership is formed and we were tasked with interviewing someone we personally thought was an ethical leader. In today’s current environment many question if law enforcement is an ethical profession. I personally have found that there are significant differences between Chief of Police and the differences are due to leadership styles and personal perspectives. 

I think one important area to look at first is “If you are a “Chief of Police” does this title automatically make you a leader?”

After working with a wide variety of Chief of Police’s, in my opinion only a select few I would say were actually leaders. My last course project for my ethics was an interview and I found a Chief of Police that I found to be different. When I interviewed this Chief of Police I found him to be insightful and having a realistic approach to being a leader. We spoke about the values of effective leaders who are Chief of Police in law enforcement. I am curious about what makes a Chief of Police a great leader. The Chief of Police I spoke with said to be an effective leader in law enforcement you must be an effective communicator, have humility, dedicated to serving others, the ability to be flexible, accountability and transparent, have an open-minded, be consistently reliable, have social responsibility, be honest, and lastly trustworthy.  Do you have any thoughts of what makes a Chief of Police a leader?

When I think of law enforcement and the community, I see a lot of disengagement. The current environment is not welcoming for communication. I can’t tell you how much I see the disengagement. On vacation I saw a lot of officers out and about not engaging unless they were approached but I also saw  the general public was distancing themselves from the officers. At home I frequently see officers sitting in their squad car looking at the kids playing in the park. I get it the current environment means that officers only engage the general public when necessary which means they won’t engage in any type of social situations. The general public is uneasy and lacks trust with law enforcement officers so they avoid any conversation or contact with them. The question then becomes who is responsible for rebuilding the relationship? I think the answer is both. First thing first, there needs to be common ground. 

Rule #1: No screaming, yelling or demanding. 

I understand there is hurt on both sides between the community and law enforcement. Think about this when someone is screaming, yelling and/or demanding “Do you listen?” Typically the answer is no so that means nothing can be accomplished but wasting time. 

Rule #2: Listen with the intent to understand NOT to reply. 

If you approach the conversation with the intent to “show them” you are listening to reply. When you listen with the intent to understand not only will the conversation go more smoothly but solutions and teamwork are more likely.   

Now with these two basic rules. Start the conversation. I always suggest starting small in a natural setting.

While I was on vacation, me and my husband (a K9 Captain) met an amazing African American couple from Miami in Key West. We were at a cigar bar and we started a casual conversation about our dogs. From there the conversation went all over the place from being parents and spouse, to career choices. Eventually, the conversation came to race and law enforcement. This was not a shit talking session. It was acknowledging the good, bad, and indifferent of law enforcement but also acknowledging that some law enforcement has not always done what is right by everyone. What came from this conversation was learning on both sides. It was a very positive conversation. We learned first hand stories of interactions but we were able to give insight into law enforcement but also how to seek remedies. We hoped we helped clear up myths about law enforcement. These are conversations that change the world, it starts as something as small as this. We had a conversation as men, women, fathers, mothers, husband, wife, and more than anything people. I really think these are conversations we have to have because then we get into the person’s heart. Change is only successful when you get to the root of the problem which is usually in-person’s heart. 

I encourage the community, the public in general and law enforcement professionals to step-out and try something different, be social and engaging we can build from there.

For many in law enforcement the Spring Break means nothing but another day of work. However, for those officers who live and work in Spring Break vacation hot spots it means dealing with a bunch of people a lot of the time partying college students. Though the United States is dealing with COVID and spring break options are limited but for places like Miama, Florida they are dealing with an increase in daily population due to Spring Break. This leads me to two topics, mental health with temporary transplants and of self-care. 

So mental health with temporary transplants. What does this mean? How does dealing with mental health with vacationers any different from dealing with normal everyday mental health calls. Well, there is a lot of difference. It will require differentiating between substance abuse / alcohol behaviors. Also, when people are from other areas around the country the presentation could be different. Mental health can easily be exacerbated by the partying environment if not drugs and alcohol. Handling vacationers especially college students on spring break also requires the ability to deal with bystanders who also may be under influence of drugs and alcohol. Dealing with spring breakers can be more difficult because of the level of unpredictability also not to mention the stress of just dealing with the call volume of partying vacationers. It’s important that the officer not risk that someone’s mental illness is induced by partying, drugs or alcohol at minimum for liability purposes. I always say it’s better safe than sorry. 

Now spring break for many including myself means it’s time for a BREAK. I am lucky enough to be able to send the kids to my mother-in-laws and we are heading to Miami and the Keys. I am not going to be partying but I am going to enjoy the sun and warm weather. I am also going to relax. This leads to self-care. I am a big believer in self-care. Self-care is about giving to yourself. We need to do daily self-care but also we need time to check-out completely. I know that everyone does not have privilege to be able to take a week off or even to get away. That does not mean that self-care is not important. It’s important to do something for yourself. In the helping professions like law enforcement and social service/mental health self-care is a must. It should be known but it is not always so clear, “You can not take others if you can’t care for yourself!“ So remember daily to give back to yourself and whenever possible completely disconnect for some amount of time. We are only as good to others as we are ourselves.

I am out of the office this week and will return Monday, April 5, 2021. Please don’t hesitate to leave a message on my voicemail or to shoot me an email.

Have a safe and healthy week. 

~ Victoria 

In recent weeks, the United States has been struggling with mass shooting. March 16 Atlanta, Georgia was rocked by the shooting of 7 Asian women who worked at spa/massage parlors. The 21-year-old suspect Robert Long was arrested and charged. Followed by March 22 Boulder, Colorado mass shooting at a grocery store leaving 10 people dead, including the first police officer to arrive on the scene. The 21-year-old suspect Ahmed Alissa was taken into custody and charged. There are so many similarities between these two incidents. Both suspects are 21-year-old and it’s not really clear what the motives are.  

Of course, once again conversation is focused on mental health and gun control. Many are asking what can be done? Do we need stricter gun control especially with concerns about mental health. I am not sure gun control will cure the problem of mental ill people getting their hands on guns. I do believe mental health is part of the problem with mass shooting.There will always be things that mental health professionals will be better equipped to deal with then the general public. However, I strongly believe the lack of authentic human connection is a common foundation and the breeding ground of mental health.When people have others to support things like mass shootings would be less likely. Let me explain when people have connections to others not only does that change the way people think but it also helps when there are concerns that could potentially be dangerous to themselves or others. There are always expectations to rule, when people have their mind made up and they will do anything to accomplish this. I still strongly believe that as  a society we have to get back to the human experience. The current world we live in and the way we live has increased mental health. We have to get back to the basics of interactions and communication. We have to stop judging, being purposely mean, and not to mention individualist. The environment is a perfect storm for the mental health crisis the United States is currently experiencing. Of course, COVID has not helped because it has further isolated people. 

Where can we start? It starts with the little things like “Hello” & “I see you!” This is something that law enforcement can do more of right away. If you are aware of someone with mental health issues focus on being that life line, humanize them. As a society we also need to do this more. When the last time you as a person interacted with someone you may not have interacted with?

Interestingly, enough in recent years I have been doing this more and more. Whenever I see someone purposely looking away or like they want to be invisible, I say something simple as “Hello.” I see a change in the person, it gives them light. Acknowledgement is the greatest form of flattery. This is the first step in building a bridge between people. 

I had a neighbor across my alley who I always saw very frequently but he avoided any interaction. One day, I introduced myself and started a conversation. I opened the door little did I know how much he needed it. His life history told me a lot of why he acted the way he did. He went to prison and as a result was a convicted felon. Well, as a result he was fearful of law enforcement. I am married to a cop. I made sure to point that out. I provided him with reassurance that we were his neighbors no matter our professions. Overtime, he told about his traumatic upbringing and that he was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Over the years, he spoke to me not only about his mental health but life experiences. I became his ally, one day the police were looking for someone and he was scared to talk to the officer and I of course provided him the support he needed. I spoke with our Resident Beat Officer, he frequently felt like the police were watching him. I spoke to the police about his symptoms of hallucinations, paranoia, and stressed he was not violent as well as I was always willing to help if needed. My ability to connect and be a person he could trust, changed him. Both me and my husband noticed that he was comfortable and safe, especially to talk about his mental health. He had a life line that he never had before. Part of what I did was being a person but also seeing the need of building that bridge to those first responders helped to see that can help him.

It’s important more than ever to let people know you see them. Being human is the best thing we can do because it normalizes us as people but also mental health. We as people need this. Understand we are all people no matter anything else. Pain is universal. It is not different from Asian to White to African American or Massage Therapist to a Grocery Store Employee or to even a Police Officer. Pain is Pain. We can’t escape pain but what we can do is invest in improving who we are and how we are to others. 

Remember acknowledgement is the greatest form of flattery. All it requires is a simple “Hello.”

I live outside of Chicago and recently the Chicago Police Department has been making the news. In the past week three Police Officers have committed suicide. It breaks my heart when I see headlines “officer suicide. ”This is not the first time the department has seen an increase in suicide in recent years. I get the importance of officer mental health after work alongside I saw some of the cases they saw. I have heard of the nightmare of a case that haunted officers. An officer told me as an officer he responded to a non breathing infant. He found out the infant was strapped in their car seat while sleeping and parents were also sleeping.However, at some point the car tipped over which resulted in the child passing due to affixation. The officer did everything they could, however it was too late.  This one officer at time was having children of his own. He recalled every time his kids car seat was set down he would insist on the infant being taken out of the car seat, immediately. He recalled “freaking out” about his child being in a car seat for any period of time. Little did the department know how this one call affected his whole life. I have countless stories of that one call that have affected officers their whole life. Police departments need to understand that even the littlest most regular call can potentially change an officer’s life. So what can be done?!!

 1st responders in general need more specialized services. 1st responders are not like any population they are the sum of everything and anything in this world plus they are called to be part of the worstest days of everyone else’s life. 

Mental health seems to be the hottest topic in law enforcement. If it is not the public talking about defunding the police and replacing the police with social workers it is about the need for more mental health services. Mental health within the police department is rarely spoken about. 

Law enforcement is trained to be strong and all knowing. I mean this is why we call them for help, right? In the 1980s and 1990s, mental health was a sign of weakness and it was frowned upon. However, in recent years, mental health is now being seen as health and as something not to be ashamed of; however, it takes something for culture to change where it is ingrained. 

The most common thing that police can expect is to see and/or be involved in traumatic situations. Realistically, trauma is part of the job. Police mental health needs to be taken as seriously as any other person. Administrations need to take special interest in officer mental health. Policy and procedures need to be in place that normalizes and even encourages mental health. The department should be making sure that resources are provided to officers and that frequently it is spoken about within the department. 

Suggestions for administrations …

• Have a presence in roll call at least every 3 months have some conversation about mental health and substance abuse. 
• Have a list of providers who are law enforcement friendly somewhere in the department that is easily accessible.   
• Have yearly personal mental health and self-care training. 
• Most of all, don’t be afraid to check-in with your officer once in a while. There does not need to be a reason why you. Acknowledge is the greatest form of flattery. 

VIP Crisis Consultation helps police departments develop programming focused on officer mental health. Police Support Services is a customized service focused on the development of officer support such as selection of EAPs providers, mental health services, debriefing, nutrition service, financial services, etc.