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