Law enforcement has always been considered one of the most challenging career paths, as it implies a high degree of stress experienced daily and numerous situations that can affect the wellbeing of workers. It is impossible to prevent police officers from encountering stressful circumstances and reduce the number of stress factors due to the nature of the job itself. Therefore, it is of major importance to analyze all the factors that stand behind such statistics and encourage the creation of various programs that aim to assist the police in overcoming stress on an everyday basis.
Numerous initiatives have been proposed lately that can help police workers to relax after a hard day and get prepared for new challenges that may await them. Such proposals included gym and massage memberships and other programs that provide useful self-care tools. Nevertheless, few people (sometimes, not even friends and family members) can truly realize the scope of hardships that officers have to encounter on a daily basis. According to Greco and Fischetti (2018), work-related stress is associated with a lower level of psychological wellbeing and an increase in the frequency of absences from work. Therefore, the implementation of a few measures can help agencies to substantially enhance the working environment and the overall performance of a department.
The most valuable options include training field supervisors who can recognize adverse stress reactions. Such people can provide troubled officers with an opportunity to change the working atmosphere and get rid of the acute stress trigger. Moreover, such professionals who receive special training can act as counselors. Supporting police families can also prove to be instrumental in mitigating a large amount of stress officers need to handle. Police officers do not always get the desired level of understanding and emotional support, as family members are not always aware of the tough working environment. Therefore, it is essential to support police officers by enhancing the awareness of their demanding job, their courage, and their virtues. Such measures, alongside various other initiatives, can significantly reduce the amount of stress officers experience.
Reference
Greco, G., & Fischetti, F. (2018). Physical, technical and tactical training and stress management in law enforcement. Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 18(2), 555–560.