ALEXANDRIA, Ky. (WXIX) – The Northern Kentucky Chiefs of Police Association is starting a peer support group to help law enforcement officers navigate the stress and trauma that comes with the job.

The team will consist of law enforcement officers trained in peer support, critical incident response and crisis intervention, in addition to a medical advisor who can refer an officer to medical care if needed.

“We recognize that police officers are tasked with dealing with difficult and challenging incidents that can negatively impact their personal well-being,” said Alexandria Police Chief Lucas Cooper, who chairs the chiefs’ association’s Health and Wellness Committee. “The support of a colleague who has experienced similar difficulties can help provide guidance, referrals and connections to resources.”

The peer support team will provide services for:

• Post traumatic incident
• Sleep problems
• Addiction to alcohol or drugs
• Anxiety and depression
• The hardships of life
• Feelings of loneliness
• Other situations and conditions that require peer support

an article, published by Walden University’s Department of Criminal Justice, lists five reasons why the mental health of police officers should be a priority:

1. Police officers report higher rates of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
2. More police die by suicide than in the line of duty.
3. Productivity is negatively affected by poor mental health.
4. Most law enforcement officers do not seek care for mental health issues.
5. Despite the lack of treatment, mental health challenges are prevalent among those with law enforcement jobs.

The law enforcement suicide rate has fallen steadily over the past five years, after hitting a record high of 255 deaths in 2019, according to the data. Blue HELPan organization that compiles a list of first responder suicides and aims to reduce the stigma around mental health.

Despite the decrease in suicide reports, mental health is still a major issue within law enforcement, as they suffer more trauma than the average citizen.

“The Peer Support Team seeks to create a safe and welcoming environment for police officers to express their struggles and better understand how to resolve them,” Chief Cooper said in a news release.

For more information about the Peer Support Team, call 859-578-2021.

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