West Coast Outlaw In, Kalispell, MT
Tuesday, 12
February Session:
Chaplain Fr. Terry Tyler, Cascade County
Sheriff/Coroner’s Office.
HIGHLIGHTS OF
DISCUSSION:
In law
enforcement, as well as related emergency services and corrections, all too
often officers have never seriously talked about stresses of the Job before, or
consider it a problem only of the “weak.”
The main thing
to remember today is: law enforcement/emergency services Job-Related Stress is
no longer something that can be ignored or belittled. There are too many excessive costs involved; i.e., potential
long-term suffering, unnecessary employee turnover, loss of costly investment
in good people, and if nothing else, the potential of high-priced
lawsuits. The point is today, NO ONE
can escape responsibility by saying they were unaware of Stress Issues or the
now easily Available Resources. With
recent court actions and decisions, local and county governments are
responsible to make a reasonable, good faith effort at addressing inherent
stress of the Job.
Traumatizing/Critical
Stress, experts say, comes in two (2) stages:
1)
The First is the “acute
stress” stage, which occurs within days of the critical incident. The stress at this point can be intense, but
near always within the normal range of human reaction (mentally,
physically, spiritually) to the abnormal critical incident. Most persons in general within two to three
weeks of the critical incident will get past their normal reactions to
abnormal circumstances: i.e., sleeplessness, anxiety, feelings of distress,
re-occurring images & dreams, etc.
2)
The Second is “Post
Traumatic Stress,” and can include “accumulative stress.” National research indicates only 1 to 2% of
people will develop full-blown Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Dispel the
backward thinking. What may not be
stressful to some, may be serious stress to others. Each person is an individual, with their own experiences, their
own make-up, their own individual being, and often times carrying their own
burdens and even previous baggage that only adds to the critical stress experience.
RECOMMENDATIONS/STRATEGY
FOR AVOIDING LIABILITY:
1.
Experienced Experts agree:
the most fundamental component of stress prevention is Stress Prevention
Training, and repeated training.
2.
The most fundamental
component of Stress Prevention Training
is Awareness Training – training officers how to recognize the sources
and signs; how to develop individual strategies for preparing for, coping and
maintaining everyone’s awareness of accessible resources; and then, using
them. Training in Stress Awareness
can lessen the impact and anxiety about the unknown, decrease an officer’s
sense of isolation and helplessness in regard to his/her stress-related
difficulties, and increase their motivation to take the steps when necessary to
combat stress symptoms. Most
professional administrators and practitioners in the field of Critical Incident
Stress Management say that the Academy is the best place to start to
train officers about stress because recruits are a captive, learning
audience. But it only starts at the
Academy. They also emphasize providing
regular intervals of mandatory in-service training – and not only for
the rank and file, but for ALL personnel – from top to bottom of the
organization. Accountable in-service
training from top to bottom lends to reducing the stigma and ignorance too
often associated with obtaining assistance for stress-related issues. Training…Training…Training.
3.
Other key elements include
maintaining good supervisory training and skills of supervisors.
4. Just like being required to maintain posters
and notices about Fair Labor
Practices and other Safety Prevention
issues, numerous organizations
provide many Job related stress signs and
posters. Get them and post them.
5. Utilize available, trained Montana CISM Network
Teams. Montana has
at least 14 fully equipped and ready volunteer
teams of mental health and
peer professionals for response to any critical/serious incident. They will
respond for FREE, or at most just reimbursement for travel. Most of them
are prepared and willing to even provide pre-incident stress training for
little or nothing of cost.
6. Develop a CISM of your own by calling the Montana CISM Network for
assistance & training.
7. Call upon your Employee Assistance Program if you have one for stress
training sessions, consultations, and one-on-one counseling. Check to see if
your insurance carrier has anything to offer for assistance.
8.
Look into developing a
full-time professional, part-time, or volunteer
field.
IMPORTANT
NOTE: None of these Recommendations are stand-alone strategies; Actively
Utilize Them ALL where you reasonably and morally can.
Resource
List: (CONTACT THEM! USE THEM!)
·
Developing a Law Enforcement Stress Program for Officers & Their
Families, 1997, available from:
Office of
Justice Programs
National Institute of Justice
·
Addressing Correctional Officer Stress: Programs & Strategies, 2000,
available from:
(same as above)
·
Montana Critical Incident
Stress Management Network:
c/o Montana Disaster &
Emergency Services
P.O. Box 4789
Helena, MT 59604 1-406-841-3911 (24-hr)
·
International Critical
Incident Stress Foundation:
1-410-750-9600.
Ellicott City, MD 21042
·
International Conference of
Police Chaplains: 1-850-654-9742.
·
National Sheriffs’
Association Chaplaincy Section:
1-703-836-7827.
·
American Correctional
Chaplains Association: 1-800-222-5642.
·
John L. Strandell,
Sheriff/Coroner: 1-406-454-6830
·
Fr. Terry Tyler, Law
Enforcement Chaplain:
1-406-454-6837
3800 Ulm N.
Frontage Road
Great Falls,
MT 59404
Chaplain.terrytyler@ccso.psemail.com
-Prepared at
request for the MACo Website by Chaplain Terry Tyler.