If I am the Last Resort, Where do I Turn for Help?
description
Transcript of If I am the Last Resort, Where do I Turn for Help?
If I am the Last Resort, If I am the Last Resort, where do I turn for help?where do I turn for help?
Kellie Meyer, M.A.Kellie Meyer, M.A.
Criminal Justice Director,Criminal Justice Director,
NAMI IndianaNAMI Indiana
Indiana State University, B.A.Indiana State University, B.A.
French and TheatreFrench and Theatre
Ball State University, M.A.Ball State University, M.A.
Executive Development for Public Executive Development for Public ServiceService
When I look in the When I look in the mirror who do I mirror who do I
see?see?
When others look When others look at me who do they at me who do they
see?see?
LAW ENFORCEMENT DEATHSLAW ENFORCEMENT DEATHS
LINE OF DUTYLINE OF DUTY POLICE POLICE SUICIDESUICIDE
20012001 237 237 43043020022002 156 156 45045020032003 146 146 48448420042004 161 161 45045020052005 155 155 47647620062006 145 145 45745720072007 194 194 397397 National P.O.L.I.C.E
Suicide Foundation
The VOIDThe VOID
Perceptions of the Perceptions of the uniform uniform
Fighting crime vs. public Fighting crime vs. public serviceservice
Who shows or even wears Who shows or even wears your good traits for you?your good traits for you?
If you are called out for If you are called out for cultural, ethnic, or cultural, ethnic, or religious based runs are religious based runs are you feared or welcomed?you feared or welcomed?
What happens when What happens when someone in your family is someone in your family is
not an upstanding not an upstanding citizen?citizen?
How has that hurt your How has that hurt your career? Or, what have career? Or, what have
you had to do to you had to do to compensate for their compensate for their
behaviors?behaviors?
You are not alone!You are not alone!
Major depressionMajor depression
Two weeks of depressed mood Two weeks of depressed mood and/or no enjoyment of activities.and/or no enjoyment of activities.
Change in appetite and sleep Change in appetite and sleep patterns, decreased energy and patterns, decreased energy and concentration.concentration.
Thoughts of suicide.Thoughts of suicide.
Major depressionMajor depression
Dramatic increase in risk of suicide.Dramatic increase in risk of suicide.
Increases death rate in other Increases death rate in other illnesses.illnesses.
Runs in families.Runs in families.
Tends to come back.Tends to come back.
Treatment of depressionTreatment of depression
Antidepressant medications are the Antidepressant medications are the main tool.main tool.
Psychotherapy is effective, too. Psychotherapy is effective, too.
Post-traumatic stress Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)disorder (PTSD)
A psychological response to a A psychological response to a traumatic event.traumatic event.
Hard to predict who will show PTSD Hard to predict who will show PTSD after a trauma.after a trauma.
Re-experiencing the trauma.Re-experiencing the trauma. Avoiding reminders of the trauma.Avoiding reminders of the trauma. Always on edge.Always on edge.
PTSDPTSD
NightmaresNightmares DaymaresDaymares Thoughts of suicideThoughts of suicide
Any time you put your Any time you put your hands on someone, hands on someone, whether to help or whether to help or
manage you may have manage you may have left an imprint or created left an imprint or created
a memory.a memory.
Panic AttacksPanic Attacks
Brief, but scary
May feel like a heart attack
Treatment of anxiety Treatment of anxiety disordersdisorders
Medications can be very helpful:Medications can be very helpful: Anti-depressants and anti-anxiety Anti-depressants and anti-anxiety
agents.agents. Counseling can be very helpful:Counseling can be very helpful:
The benefits continue after the The benefits continue after the counseling has ended.counseling has ended.
Making sense of Making sense of past experiencespast experiences
20 year anniversary on the job20 year anniversary on the job
Turning 40Turning 40
Job change to new position: Now I Job change to new position: Now I need to teach what I know to othersneed to teach what I know to others
My child is joining the forceMy child is joining the force
The Human The Human ElementElement
The CodeThe Code
Weak vs. StrongWeak vs. Strong
Others perceive you as a Others perceive you as a hero because you have hero because you have
discharged your weapondischarged your weapon
Feelings of Feelings of helplessnesshelplessness
Creating a Support Creating a Support NetworkNetwork
•Colleagues•Code words•Faith•Extra-curricular Activities family or friends•Exercise
How do you support a How do you support a colleague?colleague?
Are you saying the right Are you saying the right things to a co-worker things to a co-worker when something goes when something goes
wrong?wrong?
Partners vs. working Partners vs. working alonealone
Over commitment to the Over commitment to the jobjob
Effects on the familyEffects on the family
The family bedThe family bed The life changes in a familyThe life changes in a family
the couple, babies, teenagers, the couple, babies, teenagers, empty nesters, caregiversempty nesters, caregivers
You are in control on the job, but at You are in control on the job, but at home it is the oppositehome it is the opposite
Manipulating family time to avoid Manipulating family time to avoid undesired activitiesundesired activities
How important is the How important is the design of the house you design of the house you
live in?live in?
Remember, it is your Remember, it is your home.home.
RelationshipsRelationships
SexSex ClosenessCloseness Marriage/familyMarriage/family Divorce RatesDivorce Rates Single RatesSingle Rates
Safeguard against Safeguard against surrounding yourself with surrounding yourself with only those who only those who needneed you. you.
Make time for those who Make time for those who “want” to be with you just “want” to be with you just
because you are you.because you are you.
Highest Rates of Divorce, Alcoholism, Highest Rates of Divorce, Alcoholism, Domestic Violence, and Suicides Domestic Violence, and Suicides
Although it is difficult to get accurate statistics, Although it is difficult to get accurate statistics, studies consistently show that the police studies consistently show that the police profession has the highest rates of divorce, profession has the highest rates of divorce, alcoholism, domestic violence, and suicides. alcoholism, domestic violence, and suicides. Depending on the study: Depending on the study:
divorce divorce rate is 60-70% higher than the rate is 60-70% higher than the national average national average
alcoholism alcoholism rate is 2 times the national rate is 2 times the national average average
domestic violencedomestic violence rate is among the highest rate is among the highest of all professions of all professions
suicide suicide rate is 3 times the national average. rate is 3 times the national average. Police Dynamics Institute, Inc. 2006
If I seek professional If I seek professional help, will they help, will they
get/understand me?get/understand me?
Be prepared to Be prepared to provide educationprovide education
How do I know I need How do I know I need help?help?
Who am I now?Who am I now?
Who do I want to be?Who do I want to be?
What do I have the What do I have the power to change?........power to change?........
career change may not career change may not be in the best interestbe in the best interest
Thank youThank you