Factors that Influence the Decision to Seek Help in a Police Population.

Carolyn Burns,Carolyn Burns,Marla Buchanan

doi:10.3390/ijerph17186891

Carolyn Burns, Carolyn Burns + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186891

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Abstract

Police officers face many competing pressures and demands. Exposure to potentially traumatic incidents and significant job-related stressors can place many at higher risk of developing physical and mental health problems. The police culture exerts a pronounced influence on officers, preventing some from asking for or receiving assistance. The stigma of being perceived as weak or incompetent, concerns about being labelled unfit for duty, and worry that accessing psychological support will impact future career advancement can affect the decision to seek help. The Enhanced Critical Incident Technique was utilized to investigate the following research question: What helps or hinders the decision to access psychological services in a police population? Qualitative interviews were conducted with 20 serving Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers in the lower mainland of British Columbia, Canada. The findings encompass five main themes: the importance of systemic factors, access to information and education, quality and influence of relationships, individual characteristics, and organizational processes that will increase the likelihood of accessing mental health services. The results contribute to the empirical literature by enhancing what is known about elements that influence an officers’ decision to seek psychological services, and factors that can enable officers to overcome barriers.

Highlights

We identified five new incidents and the transfer of eight incidents into different categories, which occurred after discussion and 100% agreement between the principal investigator and the independent Enhanced Critical Incident Technique (ECIT) examiners
87% of women participants identified the police culture as hindering in contrast to 33% of men; and 75% of women participants delayed access to psychological services until their emotional state had deteriorated to the point that they were no longer able to cope emotionally in contrast with 8% of men
Education and timely treatment for those exposed to potentially traumatic events and the numerous stressors of police work can assist members and employees to develop resilience and remain strong and healthy in their work

Summary

Introduction

Specific training processes are utilized to initiate new officers into policing culture and promote behaviours designed to emulate an idealistic persona of strength, courage and control—characteristics of an “ideal” police officer [3,4,5]. Loyalty and commitment to the organization, especially to other officers, is effectively instilled through training and assimilation into the policing culture. Veteran officers are instrumental in training, but have been viewed as impediments to change if the workplace alterations are perceived as inconsistent with the established beliefs, values and traditions in a largely male-dominated culture [3,5,6]. Strong allegiance to the police culture and to colleagues can give rise to an “us/them” perception and potential isolation from family and friends [7].

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