Law Enforcement and Mental Health: The Limpid Kryptonite—A Clear and Present Danger

Abstract

The job of a police officer is extremely stressful and members of the law enforcement community exhibit disproportionately higher incidents of depression, PTSD, suicide ideation, and other mental health issues. Unfortunately, these mental health concerns are becoming increasingly grave as negative interactions with the public are more highly publicized than ever before. The present study evaluated the relationship between officers’ regard for their role as a member of law enforcement, years of experience, and awareness of the media, with stress level and PTSD symptoms. Most notable among the findings were that officers with a higher regard for their role as law enforcement, and those with more media awareness, reported higher stress levels and other maladaptive behaviors that negatively impacted their mental health. The current study contributes to the extant literature by exploring the intersectionality between officers’ stress levels, years of experience, PTSD symptomology, perceived identity, and media awareness. The widespread use of social media to publicize the actions of a small minority of law enforcement officers is among the many elements discovered and discussed in the current research.