ASSOCIATE Magazine FBINAA Q1-2024

THE RESILIENT HERO: TAPPING INTO THE STRENGTH OF THE MIND-BODY CONNECTION

JULIE RUMRILL, M.S., MBSR / ERIC MURRAY, ED.D., NA SESSION 273

In an article published in the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin in January 2020, Dr. Murray discussed the significance of implementing strategies to develop psychological capi tal (PsyCap) in our public safety workforce 1 . Psychological Capital comprises the four constructs of Hope, Efficacy, Resiliency, and Optimism, referred to as the HERO model. In this related article, we focus specifically on the resiliency component of PsyCap. We explore how mindfulness attention training can increase officer resiliency, which in turn sharpens mental acuity during stressful events and supports recovery afterward. We suggest that mindfulness is an innovative and underutilized tool that has an impor tant place in LE wellness programs.

P illars five and six of the president’s task force on 21st century policing 2 recognize officer mental health and suicide as na tionwide problems. The report calls for training innovation hubs that influence nationwide curricula. It points out that officers in poor mental health are a danger to the community and them selves, and that “supervisors would not allow an officer to go on patrol with… an unserviced duty weapon – but pay little attention to the maintenance of what is all officers’ most valuable resource: their brains” (ibid. p. 61). With the introduction of modern tech nology and equipment, policing is more complex and demanding than ever 3 . Police training, particularly geared towards mental health, must advance at a comparable pace to prepare officers to meet those demands. For too long the emphasis has been on reactive management of stress. Yet high standards in policing are related to the holistic wellness of officers within their agency, particularly with respect to resilience 4,5 . It seems ironic that one of the most effective solu tions to such a complex problem could be as simple as paying attention in the moment, referred to as Mindfulness. Yet that is our working premise, and it is supported by decades of research. BENEFITS OF MINDFULNESS A longitudinal study published in 2010 found that police recruits who have higher emotional intelligence and mindful habits are more likely to make a transition into the workplace that

is characterized by lower levels of depressive symptoms and better mental health 6 . Once on the job,

a study of first responders supported the conclusion that mindfulness training improved their capacity to make effective decisions during a crisis 7 .

Research has also shown that mindfulness-based training in law enforcement cohorts may lead to short-term improvement in psychological health, aggression, and stress reactivity 8 . The most recent studies indicated that the benefits of mindfulness-based in terventions persisted for at least three months post-study, indicating the potential to offset long-term consequences of chronic stress 9,10 . These results show that significant rewiring of the stress response is possible, and the underlying science explains why it is critical. THE IMPACTS OF STRESS Stress triggers a complex neurobiochemical cascade that instantaneously activates the sympathetic branch of the nervous system (SNS). Ideally, when the threat passes, the parasympathet ic branch will bring the nervous system back into balance. When stress is chronic however, the nervous system stays in SNS mode, and the ability to manage emotions and respond deliberately is compromised.

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8 FBINAA.ORG | Q1 2024