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Correctional officers play a crucial their peers. Some signs of officer
role in the criminal justice field and stress include:
are directly responsible for provid- • irritability and becoming angry
ing protection for the public. They with others quickly,
are responsible for maintaining • loss of compassion or empathy,
order among a diverse population
of criminals, substance abusers, • withdrawal and isolation,
homeless, and mentally ill inmates. • mood swings, and
In addition, they are exposed to • poor hygiene or decline in physi-
risks and instability every day. cal appearance.
These factors not only put cor-
rectional officers’ physical safety at Encourage Colleague Support
risk, but they also jeopardize their Officers may not always feel
mental health, which can lead to comfortable speaking with their
depression, anxiety, PTSD, and even superiors and often feel more con-
suicide. Just as there is no way to nected with their peers. Establishing
predict the situations each officer support groups among officers
will encounter on the job, we cannot gives them a platform to talk
foresee the effects these circum- with the people who understand
stances will have on their mental the challenges of the job and the
health. However, there are steps resulting associated issues. Many
corrections administrators can take correctional facilities provide some
to protect the mental well-being of officers with specialized mental
correctional officers. health training. These officers can
recognize signs of stress and pro-
Identify the Signs vide their peers with proper coping
Administrators first need to focus mechanisms. They also can refer
on learning how to recognize the fellow officers to qualified mental
signs of stress in each staff member. health professionals when needed.
One-on-one meetings can provide
supervisors with firsthand insight Diminish the Stigma
into any challenges with which their Many corrections professionals are
staff might be struggling. These reluctant to ask for help due to the
meetings also provide supervisors stigma associated with contacting a
with the opportunity to look for any mental health provider. Corrections
subtle signs of stress or depression officers, for example, want to be per-
they may not notice during day-to- ceived as strong and self-supporting.
day interactions. Additionally, these They often believe that seeking help
meetings open the door for officers defies those traits and is—or is seen
who are reluctant to ask for help. as—a sign of weakness. Many offi-
By employing an open-door cers fear that they could be passed
policy, supervisors can encourage over for promotions or moved to a
officers to reach out when they need different unit after seeking help.
help as well as to report when they
see signs of depression or stress in

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