THE HARD FACTS OF TRAUMA - MILITARY/VETERANS

Law Enforcement Officers are more likely to die from suicide than in the line of duty. What's happening to our population of people who faithfully serve others and why are so many struggling?

 On a daily basis, officers experience job-related stressors that can range from interpersonal conflicts to extremely traumatic events, such as vehicle crashes, homicide, and suicide. This cumulative exposure can affect officers’ mental and physical health, contributing to problems such as post-traumatic stress symptoms, substance misuse, depression, and suicidal ideation. Law enforcement agencies may help mitigate the impact of these stressors by implementing effective prevention strategies, such as building a culture of support throughout the department; ensuring access to culturally competent mental health and wellness services; and reducing barriers to help-seeking within their departments, social circles, and community, as a whole.  

So many in our professions struggle with the collateral damage of their jobs and don't even recognize it. Suicide, divorce, domestic violence, excessive alcohol and drug use, self destructive actions and behaviors can all stem from what we do, see and experience in the line of duty.

• We are professional boxers, we get paid to take our normal emotions and put them in a box during high stress and traumatic incidents so that we can provide a high level of professional service to those in our communities.
• We weren't created as human beings to experience so much stress and see trauma after trauma and then box all of those feelings and emotions and still be ok.
• The collateral damage from boxing our feelings and emotions can impact our lives and our relationships with our families and others..
• We may try to numb our feelings and emotions by excessive drinking, drugs or other self-destructive behaviors or actions.
• We come from a culture where we don't share our feelings about what we may be struggling with because it seem like a weakness.
•  We are mostly "A" type personalities so we are tough nuts to crack open when it comes to acknowledging our emotions and feelings. To do so can makes us very uncomfortable. 
• We are also fixit people, we spend a lot of our time on the job working hard to fix everyone else's problems. But when we are struggling and having our own problems in life instead of reaching out for help we end up trying to fix them on our own or ignore the fact that they exist at all. 
• When we realize we can't fix certain issues in our lives and relationships  we usually hesitate to reach out for help because to do so would be admitting that I am weak or a failure.

• Fix your stinking thinking
• Find a safe place to connect with like minded individuals with similar backgrounds and experiences and see that you are not alone.
• Be willing to consider that some of your stinking thinking about feelings and emotions is messed up.
• Come to a place where you realize that you need a place of connection, camaraderie, transparency and support with other Law, Fire or Military men and women you can trust and who get you.
• Be willing to work on yourself so that you can be even better at what you do both on and off the job.
• Don't let the collateral damage of the job rob you from living life to the fullest in ALL areas of your life.
• Don't let those you love and care about be a part of the collateral damage.

Firefighters are more likely to die from suicide than in the line of duty. What's happening to these heroes who faithfully serve others and why are so many of them struggling?

 Study: Police Officers and Firefighters Are More Likely to Die by Suicide than in Line of Duty

A white paper commissioned by the Foundation has revealed that first responders (policemen and firefighters) are more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty. In 2017, there were at least 103 firefighter suicides and 140 police officer suicides. In contrast, 93 firefighters and 129 police officers died in the line of duty. Suicide is a result of mental illness, including depression and PTSD, which stems from constant exposure to death and destruction.

“We need to end the silence that surrounds the issue of Firefighters mental health.

So many in our professions struggle with the collateral damage of their jobs and don't even recognize it. Suicide, divorce, domestic violence, excessive alcohol and drug use, self destructive actions and behaviors can all stem from what we do, see and experience in the line of duty.

• We are professional boxers, we get paid to take our normal emotions and put them in a box during high stress and traumatic incidents so that we can provide a high level of professional service to those in our communities.
• We weren't created as human beings to experience so much stress and see trauma after trauma and then box all of those feelings and emotions and still be ok.
• The collateral damage from boxing our feelings and emotions can impact our lives and our relationships with our families and others..
• We may try to numb our feelings and emotions by excessive drinking, drugs or other self-destructive behaviors or actions.
• We come from a culture where we don't share our feelings about what we may be struggling with because it seem like a weakness.
•  We are mostly "A" type personalities so we are tough nuts to crack open when it comes to acknowledging our emotions and feelings. To do so can makes us very uncomfortable. 
• We are also fixit people, we spend a lot of our time on the job working hard to fix everyone else's problems. But when we are struggling and having our own problems in life instead of reaching out for help we end up trying to fix them on our own or ignore the fact that they exist at all. 
• When we realize we can't fix certain issues in our lives and relationships  we usually hesitate to reach out for help because to do so would be admitting that I am weak or a failure.

• Fix your stinking thinking
• Find a safe place to connect with like minded individuals with similar backgrounds and experiences and see that you are not alone.
• Be willing to consider that some of your stinking thinking about feelings and emotions is messed up.
• Come to a place where you realize that you need a place of connection, camaraderie, transparency and support with other Law, Fire or Military men and women you can trust and who get you.
• Be willing to work on yourself so that you can be even better at what you do both on and off the job.
• Don't let the collateral damage of the job rob you from living life to the fullest in ALL areas of your life.
• Don't let those you love and care about be a part of the collateral damage.