Utilization and Impact of Peer-Support Programs on Police Officers' Mental
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Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2020 Utilization and Impact of Peer-Support Programs on Police Officers’ Mental Health Beth A. Milliard Walden University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of the Psychiatric and Mental Health Commons, and the Public Policy Commons This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Walden University College of Social and Behavioral Sciences This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by Beth Milliard has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Gregory Koehle, Committee Chairperson, Criminal Justice Faculty Dr. Sean Grier, Committee Member, Criminal Justice Faculty Dr. Dianne Williams, University Reviewer, Criminal Justice Faculty Chief Academic Officer and Provost Sue Subocz, Ph.D. Walden University 2020 Abstract Utilization and Impact of Peer-Support Programs on Police Officers’ Mental Health by Beth Milliard MA, University of Guelph, 2010 BA, University of Windsor, 1995 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Criminal Justice/Law and Public Policy Walden University February 2020 Abstract Police officer suicides rates hit an all-time high in the province of Ontario, Canada, in 2018. Sadly, this statistic is somewhat unsurprising, as research has shown that police officers suffer from higher rates of mental health disorder diagnoses compared the general public. One key reason for the elevated levels of suicide and other mental health issues among police officers is the stigma associated with seeking help. In an attempt to address these serious issues, Ontario’s police services have begun to create internal peer- support programs as a way of supporting their members. The present research explores the experiences of police officers serving as peer-support team members, particularly with regards to the impacts of peer support. In addition, this research also examines the importance of discussing shared experiences regarding a lack of provincial standards with credible peers. The Policy Feedback Theory posits that, when a policy becomes established and resources are devoted to programs, it helps structure current activity and provides advantages for some groups. This study utilized a phenomenological, qualitative approach, with data collection consisting of face-to-face interviews with 9 police officers serving on the York Regional Police’s peer-support team. The findings revealed that peer support is more than just a “conversation”; rather, it is instrumental in enhancing mental health literacy among police officers, and it significantly contributes to stigma reduction. The findings also revealed that internal policy demonstrated an organizational commitment to mental health and peer-support programs, and that a provincial standard is necessary to ensure best practices and risk management in the creation and maintenance of peer-support programs. Utilization and Impact of Peer Support Programs on Police Officers’ Mental Health by Beth Milliard MA, University of Guelph, 2010 BA, University of Windsor, 1995 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Criminal Justice/Law and Public Policy Walden University February 2020 Dedication This dissertation is dedicated to the spouses and children of police officers who are often forgotten and, in some cases, are the “first responders” to those who put their lives on the line every day to help others. Thank you for your understanding and empathy, and for loving us for who we are. Acknowledgments I would like to thank Dr. Koehle and Dr. Grier for their support and ongoing commitment to helping me successfully complete my PhD. I also want to thank the members of the York Regional Peer-Support Team who volunteered to participate in my research. Your experiences and dedication to helping others is truly astonishing, and I am honoured to have known each of you. Thank you to Chief Jolliffe, who not only allowed me the opportunity to conduct research with the York Regional Police, but who also believed in me when I came to him in 2012 with the idea of creating a unit dedicated to the psychological wellness of all members. Lastly, I would like to thank my family for making this dissertation possible, especially my father, Rick Markoff (who is a retired police officer) and my mother, Georgia Markoff (who always tells me if a door closes, a window opens). I’d also like to express my thanks to my children, Benjamin and Madison, who learned the importance of education, patience, and understanding while was I spending countless week-ends and evenings doing homework. And, most importantly, I am eternally grateful to my husband Matt, who is also a police officer and my muse. Table of Contents List of Tables .......................................................................................................................v List of Figures .................................................................................................................... vi Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study ....................................................................................1 Background ....................................................................................................................3 Problem Statement .........................................................................................................4 Purpose of the Study ......................................................................................................5 Research Questions ........................................................................................................6 Theoretical Framework ..................................................................................................6 Nature of the Study ........................................................................................................7 Definitions......................................................................................................................7 Assumptions ...................................................................................................................9 Scope and Delimitations ................................................................................................9 Limitations ...................................................................................................................10 Significance..................................................................................................................10 Summary ......................................................................................................................11 Chapter 2: Literature Review .............................................................................................12 Introduction ..................................................................................................................12 Literature Search Strategy............................................................................................15 Theoretical Framework ................................................................................................17 Types of Stress Faced by Police Officers ....................................................................19 Operational Stress ................................................................................................. 21 i Organizational Stress ............................................................................................ 21 Personal Stress ...................................................................................................... 22 Additional Effects of Police Stress ..............................................................................23 Compassion Fatigue .............................................................................................. 24 Burnout ................................................................................................................. 25 Moral Injury .......................................................................................................... 26 Police Culture and Mental Health ................................................................................30 Stigma 31 Value of Peer Support ..................................................................................................33 NYPD Peer-Support Program: POPPA (Police Organization Providing Peer Assistance Program) ......................................................................... 35 New Jersey Police Department: COP2COP ......................................................... 36 Peel Regional Police, Ontario, Canada: Peer-Support Program ........................... 36 Durham Regional Police Service, Oshawa, Ontario: PILLAR Program .............. 37 York Regional Police, Ontario, Canada: Peer-Support Program .......................... 37 Peer Support Providers ......................................................................................... 40 Family Support.....................................................................................................