CJ406M6P2 (1)

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Apr 3, 2024

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MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS

JOB FACTORS AND STRESS Research from a NIJ article suggests that there are two primary causes of stress for correctional officers. The first stressor is the need to respond to critical incidents within the facility. Critical incidents are serious issues that can occur and pose great harm to those involved. Some examples of critical incidents include fights between prisoners, physical / sexual assault, attempted prison breaks etc. The second stressor is organizational stressors. This type of stress can be seen in examples such as understaffed shifts or toxic work environments (Research on the mounting Problem of Correctional Officer Stress, 2023). WARNING SIGNS Suicide is a major issue within corrections, and understanding warning signs is important. I will cover some signs, but I highly encourage you to read both the American Military University article and the National Institute of Mental Health article. Some behaviors to watch out for are; expressing meaningless or hopelessness, self- isolation from friends and family, extreme guilt or shame, expressing sudden and unexplained improvements in mood after being depressed, neglecting personal hygiene and appearance, deteriorating job performances, taking dangerous risks (Leischen Kranick, 2014 & National Institute of Mental Health, 2022). RESOURCES, HABITS, AND PROGRAMS Many different programs and habits can help keep correctional officers both mentally and physically safe. Contacting your health care provider can provide a bigger insight as to what specifically is available. This such as medication and therapy are common. Additionally, some providers such as FHE Health “offer a specialized program of treatment for correction officers, including evidence-based interventions that target officers’ unique mental health needs (Mental Health Care for Corrections Officers, 2023). Lastly, habits such as keeping to a healthy diet, exercise, and taking time off can help to reduce stress and increase both physical and mental health. DEATHS Being a correctional officer can be very dangerous. 38% of correctional officer's deaths were due to attacks (Liu W, et al. 2019). Suicide is also a ramping issue within correctional officers. Between 2010 and 2015 the average suicide rate for MADOC correction officers spiked to approximately 105 per 100,000. This is almost 12 times higher than the suicide rate for Massachusetts (9 per 100,000) at the time. WHO CAN HELP? It is important that the one affected is willing to come forward. To that extent it is the management's job to set up training and create a workplace that can reduce or completely remove the stigma of seeking help. Additionally, coworkers can keep an eye on each other and watch for the warning signs, to help or provide resources to assist them. Lastly, policy makers can help by trying to make policies that improve mental health and reduce stress in RESOURCES See below

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