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Mental Health and Wellness Support
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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
Following the latest incident of a Chicago Police Officer taking his own life, a call is going out for early intervention. Dr. Robert Sobo, director of the Professional Counseling Division of the De- partment’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP), is imploring offi- cers to promote early intervention to create a culture of emotional well-being.
“We cannot wait to intervene when police officers are suicidal. We have to get to them long before that occurs,” Dr. Sobo says. “We need to talk about it. We need to be hands-on to address well-being. We need to make emotional communication part of everyday life.”
To further mental well-being, the Professional Counseling Divi-
sion and other mental health providers offers resources for Chicago Lodge 7 members to increase their knowledge and understanding about the help available. And to not be dissuaded by the stigma of going for help.
Dr. Sobo reminds Chicago Police Officers that if they do want to get help, they are protected by Department general orders and HIP- PA laws.
“The utilization of our services has gone up, and we are respond- ing at a much higher rate, so what we’re doing is working,” he adds. “It’s the long-term struggles that are making officers more vulner- able to suicide.”
Ryan Elwood lived for the well-being of others. He was an EMT and a firefighter in both Hometown and North Palos. In 2012, Elwood won a medal of valor for saving a woman from a house fire.
The young hero was the embodiment of a true first re-
sponder, always willing to put the lives and safety of oth-
ers first. But like so many police officers, firefighters and
other first responders, Elwood was so focused on saving
others that when it came to his own personal struggles, he failed to ask for help.
In September 2015, Elwood’s family, loved ones and all those who worked with him were shocked to discover that he had taken his own life.
RE;ACT Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that was created in response to Elwood’s sudden and devastating passing. The name stands for its mission to remember Ryan Elwood (RE) and use his story to promote awareness, counseling and training (ACT) for sui-
cide prevention among first responders. The semicolon included in the RE;ACT logo represents the symbol that stands for hope for those struggling with depression, sui- cide, addiction and self-injury.
RE;ACT recognizes that the profession of first respond- ers can do more to develop counseling or mental health screenings to monitor the day-to-day stresses of the job.
The foundation strives to raise funds to support mental health re- sources and drive support for awareness by spreading videos, post- card mailings and posters among first responder agencies in hopes of changing the stigma placed on getting help and promoting emo- tional well-being for those on the job.
The foundation shares Elwood’s story and advocates for more mental health resources so that first responders no longer feel the need to hide the hurt and, instead of losing hope, reach out for help. To get more information, go to http://www.react4ryan.com.
Call for help
A message from EAP
Provider Spotlight
RE;ACTing for Suicide Prevention
FOP STATEMENT ON SUICIDE OF POLICE OFFICER...
The FOP has been asked by the mainstream media to com- ment on the recent suicide of another police officer, which marks the fifth police suicide in the past year. We are hesitant to do so for many reasons, including protecting the privacy of the officer’s family.
No one knows with certainty why someone makes such a trag- ic decision. We are all left with a gaping hole in our lives.
The FOP will redouble its efforts to work with the Department and City to make sure help is available for officers, and we ask each and every officer to keep an eye out for any officers who
may be struggling with depression and guide them to get help. The FOP, however, can speak to the general morale of police officers in Chicago. The fact that the police are so vilified in the media and political system, and constantly subjected to false al- legations that lead to discipline and other forms of harassment, certainly takes its toll on officers and is a leading cause of despair
and low morale throughout the department.
The FOP will continue to combat this false narrative on behalf
of members and ask the many good citizens who recognize the daily courage and dedication of police officers to do the same.
CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ JANUARY 2019 49