Page 46 - FOP May 2019 Magazine

Mental Health and Wellness Support
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A message from EAP
Professional Counseling Division CPD Employee Assistance Program
312-743-0378
Widely trained clinicians and addiction counselors available 24/7/365
Peer Support Team
312-743-0378
The peer support team includes 300 officers who have taken a 40-hour training
Call for help
When involved in a shooting, make the call for assistance
Each month, the Professional Counseling Division of the Department’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides a message to promote better mental health for officers. This month, Dr. Robert Sobo, director of the Professional Counseling Division, discusses dealing with the psychological issues that are often experienced after officer-involved shootings.
The Department’s Traumatic Incident Special Order requires members who have been in an officer-involved shooting to come in for a mandatory debriefing with the EAP clinical staff.
The debriefings are confidential and protected by HIPPA.
The reason why it’s mandatory is to make sure officers don’t develop any symptoms or residue of trauma, stress or anxiety from the incident that could dam- age their well-being. Additionally, the debriefings help prevent post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other negative emo- tional consequences that could impact the officers’ quality of
life.
The counseling can be one-on-one, with partners, in a small
group or with a large group. Within 24 hours of the incident, the officer or officers must speak to a clinician and schedule the debriefing during the next 72 hours if possible. Unless they are physically injured or other obstacles get in the way of them be- ing able to participate.
As soon as officers are put into the traumatic incident stress management program, they are classified as Code 49, which means they are relieved from duty until a clinician clears them. Clinicians will clear them when they appear to have worked through any of the emotional or behavioral issues that might get in the way of their recovery.
An exceptional aspect of the program is that an officer who is really traumatized by the incident can see a clinician for as long as he or she wants. Officers can stay on Code 49 until they are ready to go back on duty. Professional Counseling wants them to be able to focus on getting well and not be in the stressful environment of the job while they are in the recovery process.
Recovery is a process of working through the cognitive, emo- tional and behavioral issues that are connected or that have been brought about by the incident. For example, sometimes an officer will start to talk about the most recent incident. But then officers want to go back to other incidents that have oc- curred previously and might have returned to the forefront of their minds. Sometimes, current trauma can make you relive or rethink your experiences from a previous incident.
A shooting can bring on the same symptoms of any traumatic incident: anxiety, agitation, fear, trouble sleeping or nightmares. Being cleared to go back on duty comes with a complete relief
of any negative symptoms or experiences and shows the offi- cer has worked through trauma. It also includes learning bet- ter coping skills to deal with stress and other issues that might come up in the future.
The counseling serves to educate officers to know that if any- thing develops later on, they will know how to handle it and to come back in to process it. The Professional Counseling Divi- sion wants to make sure officers involved in shootings don’t re- main victims of the job and suffer the consequences of taking on the job of law enforcement. When officers are relieved, they go back to their districts and are usually put on 30-day desk duty to ease back into the environment and the job.
If there are symptoms and they go untreated beyond the de- briefing, it could lead to drug and alcohol abuse or the devel- opment of addiction if the officer has a genetic predisposition. It can also lead to trouble with relationships, domestically and otherwise, issues with job performance and impact the overall quality of life.
It is very rare that officers are hesitant to come in for treat- ment because they know and they are trained to understand that this program isn’t punishment. EAP fought for a long time to ensure their well-being. It’s a program to protect them and make sure they don’t suffer as a consequence of being on the job.
It’s mandatory for everyone, and Chicago Police Officers need to take responsibility for themselves and each other to support one another in officer wellness. This can’t be said enough: Of- ficers check their gear and equipment on a daily basis to make sure they are safe when going out on the street. They need to make officer wellness part of the same practice every day.
If these officers are not well, they go home and their lack of well-being can have a profound impact on their families as well. For that reason, after officers come in for debriefings, Professional Counseling makes sure to check in on their family members and offer them the opportunity to come in as well. Re- member, an officer-involved shooting affects spouses, children, domestic partners – everybody.
Even if an officer does not feel traumatized by the incident, coming in for a debriefing can also help to teach other officers by example that this is a smart thing to do for yourself. It’s cou- rageous, it’s brave and it’s responsible.
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