Training Helps Mendham Officers Handle Mental Health Challenges

MENDHAM, NJ - With suicide on the rise in many areas of the law enforcement community, the Mendham Township Police Deapartment attended the two day Officer Resiliency program that is rolling out across the state.

In August 2019 Attorney General Grewal issued a law enforcement directive – known as the “Officer Resiliency Directive” – implementing the New Jersey Resiliency Program for Law Enforcement (“NJRP-LE’), a first-in-the-nation statewide program to train officers in resiliency and to become better equipped to handle the daily stress of police work that, when left unchecked, may lead to physical ailments, depression, and burnout.

As part of the Directive, Grewal created a “Chief Resiliency Officer,” responsible for ensuring implementation of the statewide program.

“We cannot fully comprehend the emotional and mental stress that our law enforcement officers suffer on a daily basis,” said Grewal. “We owe it to them to not only combat the stigma associated with seeking help, but also to give them the tools they need to deal with the stress and trauma they endure. It is our hope that this first-in-the-nation program will serve as a first line of communication allowing officers to unburden job stresses and provide them with the support they deserve. We can no longer allow them to suffer in silence.”

Job stress also puts law enforcement officers at a higher risk for health- and social-related issues, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, substance misuse, family and relationship stress, and self-harm, officials said.

The NJRP-LE is designed to change a culture in which officers are often reluctant to seek help for work-related stress. The program fosters an environment that encourages officers to communicate with each other and with their families.

Rather than “spiraling down,” officers are provided with techniques and services that help them to “spiral up” and meet day-to-day challenges. The program emphasizes officers’ positive strengths, rather than their weaknesses. Based upon the belief that people are not born resilient but rather learn to be resilient through life experiences, the NJRP-LE promotes and encourages a “growth mindset,” as opposed to a restrictive “fixed mindset.”

“The constant exposure to society’s most difficult problems can take an emotional toll on law enforcement officers that, if not addressed, can build up over time, often with tragic consequences,” said Director Veronica Allende of the Division of Criminal Justice. “Our goal is to teach law enforcement officers how to recognize and manage that stress to remain mentally healthy and avoid going down a dark hole.”

The NJRP-LE is not designed to replace already existing programs, such as Employee Assistance Programs or the very successful “Cop2Cop” program, that already provide a support and referral structure for officers in need or in crisis. Instead, it is designed to work in tandem with these programs by widening the net to cover all law enforcement officers, not just those in crisis or need.

In Mendham Township, Patrolman Chris Gibson along Chief Ross Johnson were in attendance. Johnson also served as an instructor at the event.

If you know anyone who is struggling or you are yourself, remember you are not alone. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available at 800-273-8255.

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