Police need wellness checks too: Embedding a culture of wellness and resilience in policing

Abstract

The policing profession is in the midst of a global mental health and wellness crisis (Edwards, 2023). The police workforce (including police officers and non-uniform members) serves as the backbone to maintaining community safety and well-being; however, sentiments across the profession point to an overwhelming sense of stress, burnout, and mental healthrelated issues. Anxiety, depression, alcohol and substance abuse, suicide, and post-traumatic stress disorder are being reported at alarming rates among police service members (Tam-Seto & Thompson, 2023). A Canadian study showed that 37% of police officers at the municipal and provincial level and 50% of police officers at the federal level reported having a mental health disorder (Carleton et al., 2017, as cited in Grupe, 2023. These are just disclosed statistics. The mental health and wellness of the workforce is not a sector-specific issue; it is a human issue-one facing every single police service in Canada and, indeed, globally.We sponsored the first special edition of the Journal of Community Safety & Well-Being focused on "Envisaging the Future," because we recognize that you cannot have safe, healthy, and resilient communities without a safe, healthy, and resilient police workforce. Full stop. Wellness, focused on health promotion and disease prevention, is foundational to a sustainable model of policing that supports the health and safety of our communities. Recognizing this is a complex issue that will not be solved with simple solutions, our Security and Justice and Health Care practices have come together to co-sponsor this second special edition focused on wellness and resilience in policing.

Mindful police leadership: Opening essential new pathways to 21st-century police leadership and culture

“…It is not an exaggeration to say that addressing the wellbeing challenge is critical to the future of Canadian policing and community safety. As Jackson and Theroux (2023) explain:…”

“…In the past 5 years, much more has become known about the depth and breadth of trauma and stress carried by police employees and other public safety professionals (Carleton et al, 2018;Carleton et al, 2020;Heber et al, 2023;Papazoglou et al, 2021). Canadian police leaders are being urged to make the mental well-being of individuals in their workplaces a constant high priority (Edwards, 2023;Jackson & Theroux, 2023;Royal Canadian Mounted Police, 2022;Thompson & Tam-Seto, 2023).…”

Barriers and bridges: Exploring the introduction of meditation and mindfulness training into Canadian policing

“…In 2023, Canadian police organizations were under significant pressure to improve the health and well-being of their employees (Edwards, 2023;Jackson & Theroux, 2023;Thompson & Tam-Seto, 2023). This call to action has grown stronger over the past 5 years as emerging research has led to a better understanding of the depth and breadth of trauma and stress carried by police and other public safety professionals (Carleton et al, 2018;Heber et al, 2023;Papazoglou et al, 2021;Ricciardelli et al, 2018).…”

“…Regardless of the reasons, it is a serious problem that extends beyond policing, and directly impacts Canadian society. As Jackson and Theroux (2023) explained:…”