Examining the Relationships Between Different Types of Critical Incident Exposures, Mental Help-Seeking Attitudes, and Occupational Burnout Among Taiwanese Police Officers

Police officers operate in one of the most demanding and high-stress professions. Frequent exposure to critical incidents, coupled with a general reluctance to seek mental health support, contributes to elevated rates of adverse psychological outcomes among police officers. While prior research has examined the impact of critical incident exposure, less is known about how specific types of exposure relate to occupational burnout, and how mental health help-seeking attitudes may influence occupational burnout. This study addresses the knowledge gaps by analyzing survey data from 734 police officers in Taiwan. Results from ordinary least squares regression indicate that exposure to personal threats and secondary trauma significantly predicts higher levels of occupational burnout. In contrast, more positive attitudes toward mental health help-seeking are associated with lower burnout levels. These findings highlight the need for mental health interventions tailored to officers’ exposure profiles and underscore the importance of fostering a supportive organizational culture that normalizes and encourages help-seeking behavior.