Assignment 1: Discussion—Stress and Mental Health Functioning (FP 6880)

Assignment 1: Discussion—Stress and Mental Health Functioning (FP 6880)

Abstract

This paper aims to talk about some of the stressors that are encountered by law enforcement officers. The motive here is to explore the effects of these stressors on police officers. The incidence and prevalence of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among police officers is one of the goals of this paper. Further, the other goals of this research is to find out answers to such questions like are stressors different from law enforcement, what could be some of the unique stressors encountered in law enforcement, is PTSD more prevalent in law enforcement, and what are the impacts of past life events on current mental health functioning?

Introduction

Police work is considered as one of those occupations in which rates of stress are much higher. Police officers are not only exposed frequently to the most antisocial, violent, and mistrustful elements of society, but they are also mostly expected to exercise discretion under certain critical circumstances. There are numerous researches in this regard which argue that the job performance of police officers can be highly affected harmfully because of the experiences of chronic stress in their profession.

Discussion

Stress can be defined as a feeling that is created when people react to certain events. It reflects the ways in which human body rise to challenges and prepares to meet a tough or uncertain situation with strength, focus, heightened alertness, and stamina. Stressors are the events that provoke stress, and a whole range of situations is covered under stressors (Adams, 2010).

Stress encountered by law enforcement officers

The effects of stress can be seen in all walks of life experiences along with the ways to cope with it, but the causes and effects of stress that are encountered by law enforcement officers are unique and more pronounced. Since the 1970s, researchers and criminal justice officials have highlighted this fact. Numerous studies show that law enforcement is considered by most of the officers and their family members as one of the most stressful occupations, which includes correspondingly reported high rates of alcoholism, divorce, suicide, and such other health and mental problems (Adams, 2010).

Stress in male versus female officers

Research has also been done in order to find out that how stress might be different in male versus female police officers, and the sources of stress for both genders. However, a limited research has been taken ...