NCJ Number
209786
Journal
Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies and Management Volume: 28 Issue: 1 Dated: 2005 Pages: 6-29
Date Published
2005
Length
24 pages
Annotation
This article presents the results of a survey to assess the mental health of members of the police force, explains the health realization model, and gives a definition of optimal mental health with specific reference to the police force.
Abstract
Police personnel face some of society's most serious problems, often work in dangerous settings, and are typically expected to react quickly and at the same time correctly. It is clear that the nature of work in police professions requires optimal mental health. However, within police instruction and training, there is a scarcity of mental health instruction. This article attempts to describe the principles behind the health realization model and offers a definition of optimal mental health; to present the well-being inventory (WBI), a survey instrument designed specifically to measure 5 dimensions of optimal mental health; to describe the typical mental health of 179 prospective police professionals who completed the WBI; and to emphasize the value of teaching future police officers the nature and source of optimal psychological functioning. Results from the WBI survey suggest that the typical mental health of the majority of prospective police professionals is less than optimal with the mean score for the study sample at the low end of the average range. The results indicate the need for sound mental health instruction to be incorporated into all future police training programs. Tables and references