Blog Posts
We welcome your stories, perspective and important information regarding suicide in law enforcement.
I want to tell you…
My late husband was a police officer and he died by suicide. I want to tell you how his department did nothing but stand and watch me on my hands and knees screaming for them to help me, after I had found him. I want to tell you how a noticeable amount of his...
Holiday Thoughts
It’s been three and a half years since Steve died by suicide. Thanksgiving week is always hard for me because it’s the halfway mark- Halfway through another year without him. Halfway through another year as a widow (I still hate that word and don’t think I’ll ever...
What Can Agencies Do?
We often find ourselves doing nothing because we do not know where to start. When I am asked what agencies should be doing, I often start with first they need to recognize better from worse. It is truly that simple for many of the decisions we make that...
#MindsetMonday – Dr. Jeff McGill
What can agencies do? We often find ourselves doing nothing because we do not know where to start. When I am asked what agencies should be doing, I often start with first they need to recognize better from worse. It is truly that simple for many of the decisions we...
What’s Your Breaking Point?
What’s your breaking point? Your spouses? Could you predict it? If trauma after trauma was piled upon you for years, would you believe it would be something as innocuous as a shoplifter being released again? That’s what broke Brian. Brian served his country...
Blue H.E.L.P. Endorses Legislation to Include PTS and Suicide Under the PSOB Program
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Public Safety Officer 4 Support Act of 2020’’ Last week, the Law Enforcement Suicide Data Collection Act was signed into law by President Trump, this was an historic bill not only supported by Blue H.E.L.P. but a result of their efforts...
Suicide 41
This is the story of a good man, a good wife, a good department, and a bad disease. Of the 100 confirmed law enforcement officer suicides in 2016, this is the story of number 41. It is not just a number but a man, a husband, a father, and a police officer. When...
#MindsetMonday – Supervisory Involvement in Traumatic Incidents
Guest post by John Avery Within the Public Safety Community there has been an increase in awareness of what individual officers and employees encounter and how they deal with traumatic incidents and cumulative stress. How an employee deals with these incidents and...
#MindsetMonday – MINDSET CAN BE TRAINED & STRESS CAN BE GOOD
By Olivia Mead Several people sat in a room waiting to participate in a very stressful and career-defining job interview. The interviewers would purposefully be giving negative feedback, which the interviewees were expected to act on immediately. While they waited,...
#MindsetMonday: Preparing for a Life After Law Enforcement
In this week’s #MindsetMonday we’re talking about preparing for a life after law enforcement. Whether the transition comes after a few years or a few decades, transitioning from a career in law enforcement has unique challenges. Tips for preparing...
#MindsetMonday: L.O.V.E. Yourself
In this week’s #Mindset Monday we’re going expand on making self care a priority and explore the L.O.V.E. Principles with Dr. Theresa Larson, DPT, CSCS, SFMA (aka “Dr. T”) from MovementRX in San Diego, CA. On Monday night, Dr. T will join us on Facebook...
#MindsetMonday: Make Self Care a Priority
In this week’s #Mindset Monday we’re encouraging readers to set SMART goals to make Self Care a priority. A recent Law Enforcement Bulletin from the FBI Website lists self care as the first recommendation to combat “Compassion Fatigue.” Self Care Saves...
10 Reasons You Shouldn’t Care About Police
Yup, you read that right. I know there are millions of you that hate cops, and there are millions of you that love them. I’ve given it a lot of thought and realized the haters have a point. I mean seriously, in 1962 John F. Kennedy decided to set aside an entire...