Police Officer Mental Health: Predictors of and Barriers to Seeking Help

The consequences of poor mental health are far reaching for police officers, organizations, and the community. The occupational culture in place to collectively buffer the strains of the job can also serve as a barrier to seeking mental health help. The precise manner in which this operates is currently unknown. Utilizing survey data from a large urban police department, the current study examines the impact of several internal and external features of the cultural work environment on officers’ perceptions of mental health seeking help. Results from multivariate analyses illuminate the importance of top management support, expansive role orientations, and job satisfaction in seeking mental health assistance. Conversely, higher perceptions of danger and stress were negatively associated with willingness to seek help for mental health issues. A second analysis, based on grouping of open-ended survey responses, reports a number of occupational fears in coming forward with mental health concerns.