Page 45 - PCPA Winter 2023 Bulletin Magazine

45
WINTER 2023 BULLETIN
LEXIPOL | WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER A CRITICAL INCIDENT IN LAW ENFORCEMENT
Anything I looked up or accessed in the app could not be
traced back to me. Just to be sure, I contacted our legal
representative. The attorney assured me it was a safe and
secure means of wellness exploration.
With those worries handled, I started exploring the app.
What I discovered was a versatile resource that provided
me with just about everything I needed to help recover
from that awful experience.
Someone to Talk To: It had been so long since our
agency actually trained and used a peer support team on
a regular basis, I wasn’t sure if the group had dissolved
completely. When I consulted the app, though, it showed
me exactly who was on my team, making it easy to find
a close teammate I trusted who was right there all along,
waiting to listen to me.
A Confidential Shoulder to Lean On: The Cordico app
had a list of vetted therapists who were already in our
Employee Assistance Program, each one identified with
their background, specialties, and even distance from
my work. With the click of a button, I could schedule an
appointment to be paid for by my employer. And again,
nobody in the department would know I needed and
sought help.
Support to Stay Healthy: At this point in my career,
my commitment to fitness had stalled while my age
kept going up. I was buying new uniforms on a regular
basis, which is rarely a good sign. My department had
a workout program and facility, but I was out-eating my
current bare-minimum fitness routine. With the Cordico
app’s workout videos and basic nutrition information at
my fingertips, I was able to regain much of my lost fitness.
Free videos and bite-sized information is regularly added
to the app, as well as guidance on injury prevention and
stretching. Another issue it helped with was sleep: Falling
asleep, staying asleep, experiencing restful sleep. These
resources helped immensely as I retrained my body to
relax and let go of troublesome thoughts.
Help Dealing with Stress: I was never a drinker before I
became a cop. I waited until I was 36 to even have my first
alcoholic beverage. At the time of this call, I was 43 and
making up for lost time. More than once it occurred to me
that I needed to slow down my weekend fun. Did I have
a drinking problem? The app provided a self-assessment
tool that served as an eye-opener regarding what limits
and triggers were generally accepted by the mental health
profession. Cordico also has reference and supplemental
materials, including articles on wellness, adult ADHD, elder
care and child-rearing issues. These and other topics are
discussed in depth to provide knowledge and support for
all Cordico users.
Ways to Manage Self-Destructive Thoughts: This one is
rough. In my career I have had three public safety suicides
to handle alone. One was a friend of mine, one was a
friend of my husband’s, and one was a subordinate I wish
I had known better. All three were devastating, however if
even one had used the Cordico app to seek help, I might
not be reporting the important need of this feature. The
app lets the user talk to a real person at the touch of a
button. There is no waiting for an appointment or office
hours. I know none of those I have lost realized this was
even a possibility.
A Community of Brothers and Sisters: Studies have
shown the number one predictor of early death is a lack of
purpose and community. As public safety employees, we
tend to be self-sufficient, stoic, and leadership minded.
Cordico provides a place to experience community,
to know you are not alone. Most recently Cordico has
partnered with Jocko Willick and Leif Babin (former Navy
SEAL officers and leaders at Echelon Front) to bring this
concept home.
Feeling Reborn
I don’t care what anyone says; stress will get to all of us.
Although it is a fact of modern life — and an occupational
hazard if you’re a first responder — there are definitely
things you can do to help relieve some of the tension.
Knowing what to expect is just part of the challenge when
dealing with a critical incident in law enforcement. Having
the right resources at hand, and the peace of mind to be
able to access them, is critical to crawling out of the pit
your trauma has dug for you.
For a variety of reasons, I’m thankful my agency provided
the Cordico app to help personnel deal with the trauma
that comes from everyday work as a first responder. I’m
even more grateful we got the app so quickly after the
incident that threatened to push so many of us over the
edge. The resources can be used any time you feel life
becoming overwhelming. It truly is a lifesaving tool for first
responders.
www.lexipol.com | 844-312-9500
info@lexipol.com