Page 44 - September 2019 FOP Newsletter

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about medications that I might need?’”
To address this roadblock and other trauma and addic-
tion-related issues, panelists shared information during the two-day event on research-based best practices for under- standing and treating the myriad, often co-occurring mental health issues affecting law enforcement officers both individ- ually and as a community.
Topics included a comprehensive look at mental wellness ranging from social perspectives on the group and individual to clinical perspectives on addiction and neuroscience.
Dr. Kroll’s first-day panel, aptly titled “Aspects That Impact Trauma and How It Manifests Itself in Law Enforcement: Start to Finish,” zeroed in on a key roadblock — the persistent lack of awareness among officers that psychologists specially trained in policing and public safety who are skilled in work- ing with first responders do, in fact, exist and are available to them. “It can be very counterproductive if an officer sees a clinician who really doesn’t understand the culture,” she said.
In an effort to repair that disconnect and educate a diverse population on police culture, critical issues and treatment options, seminar organizers extended an open invitation to students, social workers, human resources departments and other attendees who might benefit from hearing the panelists.
“The field is constantly evolving,” said panelist Anish John, M.D., who serves as an associate medical director at the Pos- itive Sobriety Institute in Chicago. “The seminar [served not only to] improve awareness of the mental health struggles that law enforcement and first responder communities face, but also to highlight medically relevant changes that occur in the
The first day of the seminar featured a panel discussion on the experienc- es of officers involved in critical incidents and other potentially traumatic events.
human brain that help to explain the worlds of trauma and addiction.”
Dr. John led the event’s final panel, titled “Addiction of the Brain,” which included turning a lens on advances in neuro- scientific methods for identifying and treating addiction and mental health issues.
According to Dr. John, neuromodulation treatment modal- ities like transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and tran- scranial direct current stimulation (TDCS) can help alleviate depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances and chronic pain. He
Stress Management for Chicago Police Officers
Hartgrove Behavioral Health System provides a monthly stress management workshop for the Chicago Police Depart- ment. The purpose of this workshop is to prevent burnout and promote social emotional wellbeing by having attendees learn to:
• Define and understand signs of stress
• Identify different sources of stress
• Practice techniques to cope with stress
For more information or to register for the Stress Management seminar, contact Chicago FOP Lodge 7 at 312-733-7776.
44 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ SEPTEMBER 2019