NCJ Number
58221
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 7 Issue: 2 Dated: (JUNE 1979) Pages: 241-244
Date Published
1979
Length
4 pages
Annotation
CHANGES IN JOB-RELATED KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES FOLLOWING PARTICIPATION IN BRIEF HEALTH ORIENTATION PROGRAM ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE PARTICIPANTS IN THIS STUDY WERE 24 LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ENROLLED IN A REGIONAL POLICE TRAINING ACADEMY THAT TRAINS OFFICERS FROM SMALL COMMUNITIES AND RURAL AREAS OF EIGHT COUNTIES IN CENTRAL LOUISIANA. THE GROUP INCLUDED 22 WHITE MALES, 1 BLACK MALE, AND 1 WHITE FEMALE. MEAN AGE WAS 27.5 YEARS, AND MEAN TENURE AS AN OFFICER WAS 22.8 MONTHS; NINE PARTICIPANTS HAD SOME PRIOR ACADEMIC OR OCCUPATIONAL EXPERIENCE RELEVANT TO MENTAL HEALTH. THE MENTAL HEALTH ORIENTATION WAS INCLUDED AS PART OF THE 400-HOUR INSTRUCTIONAL CURRICULUM, AND WAS CONDUCTED BY TWO PSYCHOLOGISTS DURING A 2-WEEK PERIOD. IT INCLUDED 13 HOURS OF CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION, 2 HOURS OF TESTING, AND A 1-HOUR TOUR OF THE STATE MENTAL HOSPITAL. MENTAL ILLNESS AND THE LAW, PSYCHOSIS, DEPRESSION, SUICIDE, ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE, PERSONALITY DISORDERS, INTERPERSONAL CONFLICTS AND VIOLENCE, MILD MENTAL HEALTH DISTURBANCES, AND THE POLICE OFFICER AS A PERSON WERE THE TOPICS COVERED. THE INVENTORIES WERE COMPLETED (BEFORE AND AFTER THE ORIENTATION) FOR EVALUATION OF PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS WHICH INCLUDED THE OPINIONS ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS SCALE (OMI) AND A MENTAL HEALTH KNOWLEDGE TEST. ANALYSIS OF THE INVENTORY DATA REVEALED THAT THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVES OF THE TRAINING PROGRAM WERE ACHIEVED. THE OFFICERS' KNOWLEDGE OF MENTAL HEALTH CONCEPTS INCREASED FOLLOWING THE BRIEF JOB-RELATED MENTAL HEALTH ORIENTATION PROGRAM. IN ADDITION, MOST OF THE OFFICERS BELIEVED THAT THE PROGRAM PROVIDED USEFUL INFORMATION AND WAS A VALUABLE ADDITION TO THEIR INSTRUCTION. BECAUSE HANDLING INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE MENTALLY ILL OR INVOLVED IN SITUATIONAL CRISES IN ONE OF THE SOCIAL SERVICE FUNCTIONS PERFORMED BY POLICE, IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE MENTAL HEALTH ORIENTATION PROGRAM WOULD APROVE A VALUABLE ADDITION TO ALL TRAINING ACADEMY CURRICULUM. HOWEVER, MORE RESEARCH IS NEEDED REGARDING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INCREASED MENTAL HEALTH KNOWLEDGE AND LASTING IMPROVEMENT OF JOB PERFORMANCE. FOOTNOTES AND TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. (LWM)