Answer

Problems Related to PTSD among Law Enforcers

Initially, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was mostly associated with veterans owing to their continuous exposure to tragic experiences. However, currently, research indicates that this condition is more prevalent among law enforcers and is affecting critical decision-making in respective departments. PTSD may occur in individuals exposed to traumatic events. People who are exposed may exhibit symptoms such as psychological-emotional difficulties, avoidance of any reminders to certain events, or distressing memories related to certain events. In most cases, a significant number of law enforcers are exposed to a series of traumatic events like domestic violence, combat, sexual abuse, and rape. Such exposures have the capability of impairing the mental wellbeing of law enforcers. In line with the apparent effects of PTSD among law enforcers both individually and to the institution, this essay will describe the strategies required to mitigate the problem such as using peer support teams that will advise the affected individuals.

Background Information

In many countries, the formation of response teams to environmental calamities has been an effective system in managing the number of causalities after an identified incident. Owing to the increase in different types of disasters, different countries have formed effective bodies that work together to ascertain the safety of all individuals at all times. However, recent studies have revealed that there is some sluggishness in matters concerning the response of critical issues, especially PTSD cases among law enforcers (Auld & Cartwright 2020). The problem of assuming this issue is that PTSD is commonly related to suicidal ideas and their consequential attempts. In retrospect, suicide is among the key causes of death among many police officers, and the risk of this intentional death is purported to escalate even after many years of service. Also, law enforcers with PTSD have been known to make poor decisions when using deadly force when endorsing peace in the community. There have been cases whereby police officers have fatally injured innocent individuals, suspects, their colleagues. After close examination, it is later established that these law enforcers have been suffering from PTSD. Unfortunately, these poor decisions create a bad rapport for these law enforcement agencies.

Problems of PTSD among Law Enforcers

Other types of research indicate that there is a direct link between police officers with PTSD and the gradual increase of these individuals committing suicide. Many law enforcers would openly claim that the first time joining the police forces was pleasantly exciting. This is because of the anticipation of being part of the first mission. However, as they attend to their duties, the ignition enthusiasm in combat duty depreciates significantly. The reason behind this is that many police officers claim that the reflection of having taken someone’s life becomes unbearable to the point that other officers resort to early retirement (Auld & Cartwright 2020). The increased traumatic stress-related to combat events makes an individual depressed to the point where they no longer value their life. Consequently, suicidal actions remain to be their ultimate solution.

Another problem is that officers with PTSD tend to make wrong decisions, especially when using deadly force in the name of promoting safety to the public. In previous studies, researchers have proved that handling perilous incidences is quite puzzling for law enforcers with PTSD (Auld & Cartwright 2020). Ostensibly, many police officers are still serving and have this condition. What’s more, law enforcement agencies have hardly focused on controlling these issues despite the increase of poor decisions made by law enforcers with PTSD. The perception of this matter ratifies that insufficient training has mired the effectiveness of service delivery by police officers during critical incidences. In most cases, law enforcers with PTSD tend to misjudge certain situations and end up assaulting suspects wrongly. In recent reports, scholars have proved that there are some law enforcers with PTSD who have not only opened fire to innocent individuals and suspects but also their colleagues. Such ineptness has led to the depreciation of trust in these law-enforcing units by U.S citizens.

Solution

Owing to the upsurge of the crucial issues related to PTSD among law enforcers, institutions should consider introducing form peer support as well as Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT) to mitigate cases related to mental illnesses. The current position of Peer Support Organizations is that they borrow much of their policies from the original mental health consumer movement that was formed in the 1970s. The establishment of the mental health service was to endow the social movement organizations towards helping each other to manage different projects (Soomro el al., 2019). The first responses which the movement focused on were issued related to chronic disease outbreaks such as diabetes, asthma cancer, mental health, and heart diseases. By virtue that the program concentrated on managing the listed problems, its recognition to the public was not rapid but also welcomed to the point that every healthcare institution had to employ the program as one of the building blocks of its daily operations.

The Peer Support team will be responsible for advising the law officers on the best approaches which are applicable when an individual is caught up in a challenging situation of the specified disasters. The reason for offering training sessions by the peer group teams is that since every victim will be having different experiences, the chances of being free to share their experiences will be high (Soomro el al., 2019). Scholars have established that healthcare stakeholders are implementing these principles in their system, and the legislature is gradually coming to terms with its applications. Most importantly, the public will embrace its strategies to hence making potential victims seeking healthcare approach these programs with a positive attitude.

 All the same, institutions should ensure that they not only provide professional training sessions to the police but also health practitioners. The gap in this assertion is that many associations do not have the capability of embracing two professions in one setting. This limits the chances of controlling mental health conditions in the police department. When professionals from these two fields convene, optimal solutions on how to unravel the social challenge are achieved effectively (Potard et al., 2017). Similarly, organizations should offer personal interactive sessions with police officers who have or are recovering from mental health issues. This will reduce the chances of recurring effects on the individual in the future.

Other than offering interventions to law enforcers with PTSD, employing qualified staff to serve as practitioners well as police officers will help in mitigating the problems that arise from mismanagement to vital issues is another way of limiting the criminal justice dilemma (Potard 2t al., 2017). The quality of personnel will relatively produce quality service, which in this case is quite essential.

Conclusion

Despite the complexity of the findings, there is a direct relationship between PTSD and ineffective decision-making in the law enforcement departments. For instance, officers with PTSD, especially from combat-related trauma, increases suicidal behavior. Another problem related to PTSD among law enforcers is poor decisions, especially when using force to enforce public safety. Many officers tend to misjudge situations and end up killing innocent people, suspects, and colleagues. However, this situation could be mitigated by introducing Peer Support Organizations that help in counseling affected officers on the best approaches to controlling their conditions