‘We need help just like everybody else’: Kern County law enforcement work to make mental health a priority
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The job is already difficult, but being not mentally fit to do it could make it impossible. “In regard to the work that they do, it’s very taxing. The… Bakersfield Police Department has made mental health a priority within the past two to three years, following the death of Kern County Sheriff's Office Senior Deputy Benjamin Harmonson. The department opened a wellness center last year to help officers with a healing space. Bakersfield police Sgt. Verion Coleman said the department has made it more of a priority due to a decrease in the stigma surrounding mental health in policing. The need for mental health services is also increasing, with more clients following the COVID-19 pandemic. BPD has been supportive of KCSO during this time.
Publié : il y a 10 mois par Mikhala Armstrong dans Health
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The job is already difficult, but being not mentally fit to do it could make it impossible.
“In regard to the work that they do, it’s very taxing. They see a lot of traumatic things,” said Niesha Davis of Inspire Me Counseling and Wellness Center.
Clinical social worker Niesha Davis said law enforcement officers face challenges each day which can trigger trauma and play a role in how they respond to the community if not addressed.
“If they don’t address their mental health or if their mental health does not go addressed, I think it will lead to burnout, job dissatisfaction, and affect the way that they respond to the crisis and mental health situations they are dealing with every day,” Davis said.
Bakersfield Police Department Sgt. Verion Coleman says there can be a mental health stigma in the culture of policing, but within the past two to three years the department has made it more of a priority.
“The homicides, the bad car accidents, when they’re involved in officer-involved shootings, when they’re involved in car accidents, we’re no different than anybody else,” Coleman said. “It affects us physically, mentally, emotionally, and we need help just like everybody else if not more sometimes.”
One thing that helped that change is the department opening a wellness center last year to help officers have a healing space.
“They’ll come in all the time and say ‘this wellness center is amazing, it’s awesome that we’re able to come here, I feel safe when I come here. I have a safe place where I can come and work on reports,'” said Coleman.
But last week, Kern law enforcement saw how important this conversation is, when Kern County Sheriff’s Office Senior Deputy Benjamin Harmonson died by suicide.
KCSO has not spoken about the matter publicly until Tuesday afternoon, but Commander Augustin Moreno said since the incident mental health has reinforced internally.
“We’ve sent out multiple reminders to staff that there are multiple resources for them for mental health as well as suicide prevention,” said Moreno.
BPD has been supportive of KCSO during this time, and Coleman said this is being felt by all.
“If an officer passes, we all feel it,” he said. “That’s where the blue line comes in.”
“When the call first came out, we were there for them and we’re going to continue to be there for them every day,” he said.
Niesha Davis says she had more clients after the COVID-19 pandemic who had never experienced a mental health issue and stresses the importance of this conversation.
“This is a conversation that has to continue, because the need for mental health services are definitely arising within our community in different areas,” said Davis.
If you need any help, or know someone who does, call or text the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 9-8-8. For more resources go here.
Les sujets: Social Issues, Law Enforcement