NovDec Associate Magazine.2018.

OVERCOMING STIGMA

OFFICER SAFETY & WELLNESS The Executive Board of the FBI National Academy Associates is dedicated to fur- thering the conversation on officer safety and wellness issues that impact the law enforcement profession. The Associate Magazine highlights challenges that are inherent to the profession and present solutions to those looking to enhance their own personal resiliency or that of their agencies.

BILL MAZUR

The logical conclusion gleaned from this data and the obvious causation of not seeking help? Quite simply... Stigma! It is time organizational leaders (both positional and unofficial) take action to shift the cultural reality that exists in the first responder community. We must transform the environ- ment from one which reinforces fear, stigma and the belief that seeking help is a "career ender" to a safe atmosphere where heroes are encouraged to seek assistance when they are not “o.k.". As a Strategic Account Manager for the Treatment Placement Specialist ®, I am blessed and honored to speak with first responders across the country and stig- ma is the most recurring topic of discussion in terms of barriers to seeking help. The good news is this... leaders can impact that perspective in a big way! There are numerous low cost or no cost initiatives you can implement in your own or- ganization that will move the needle forward and positively impact the cultural wellness of your agency and individual health of your personnel.

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