The Invisible Toll: Addressing the Mental Health Crisis in Policing

Mental health in policing is no longer a quiet crisis. It’s a growing emergency. Officers face constant pressure: long shifts, traumatic calls and the weight of public scrutiny. Over time, that stress adds up. It leads to burnout, low job satisfaction and deteriorating mental health.

According to Police1’s survey, What Cops Want in 2024, 73% of officers report inadequate sleep. Over half are dissatisfied with their agency’s mental health resources, and 12% don’t have access to any resources at all. But the most sobering statistic? More officers die by suicide than in the line of duty.

A recent New York Times article brought this reality into focus. Approximately 57 officers are killed by suspects each year. Between 2018 and 2022, however, an average of 192 officers died by suicide annually.

Officers are trained to protect their communities, but far too many don’t protect themselves. Many officers don’t seek help due to industry stigmas. Others lack the resources or support structures to find the help they need.

That must change. And it starts with public safety leaders like you who are willing to prioritize wellness, resilience and support from within.

Invisible Toll

Before we explore solutions, it’s important to understand the challenge facing law enforcement today. Not only do police officers operate under constant pressure, they also work long shifts and irregular hours. And their shifts often consist of traumatic events and split-second decisions. Over time, these challenges take an invisible toll.

Police officers face higher rates of PTSD, depression, burnout and suicide than nearly any other profession. Repeated exposure to trauma and chronic stress chips away at their resilience. Many are also running on very little sleep. According to the What Cops Want in 2024 survey, 70% of officers report difficulty sleeping.

Sleep and mental health are interconnected. Poor sleep impairs decision-making and increases emotional stress, which in turn makes it harder to sleep. Left unaddressed, this cycle exacerbates PTSD, depression and burnout.

Despite these risks, there is a stigma in law enforcement around seeking help. In fact, 50% of officers report that a stigma still exists in their agency (Police1 survey).

Some people may believe, incorrectly, that mental health issues are a sign of weakness or job incompetence. In reality, getting help is an indicator of strength and competency (PTSD and burnout only hinder job performance).

Breaking that stigma starts at the top. Agency leaders must normalize conversations around mental health, provide accessible resources and encourage their teams to use them.

Supporting Officer’s Mental Wellness

Leadership

Leadership sets the tone for how mental health is treated within a department. When agency leaders openly acknowledge the pressures of the job and talk about wellness without stigma, it signals to officers that seeking help is a strength, not a liability.

Reversing the stigma starts at the top. Chiefs, command staff and supervisors must lead by example. You can do this by promoting mental health resources. But even better, you can use them yourself and speak candidly about your own wellness journey.

It’s also important to train supervisors to recognize early signs of emotional distress, PTSD or burnout. These frontline leaders are often the first to notice when something’s off. They need to be equipped to respond with empathy, discretion and support.

When leadership actively prioritizes officer wellness, it creates space for honest conversations, early intervention and less stigma. That shift in tone and responsibility can start changing the culture – one conversation at a time.

Support Systems

With the proper support systems in place, you can better protect the mental health of officers. Access to 24/7 resources can make all the difference, particularly when those resources are designed with law enforcement in mind.

Peer support teams are essential. They offer a confidential, judgment-free outlet where officers can talk to someone who understands the pressures of policing. Sometimes, just knowing someone else “gets it” can open the door to healing.

Licensed counselors and therapists are just as important, especially if they specialize in law enforcement. These professionals understand the unique stressors facing officers and can offer more practical help, like teaching breathing exercises and grounding techniques or providing EMDR therapy.

In both options above, anonymity makes a big difference. When officers have a stigma-free way of accessing resources, they are more likely to use it.

Early intervention systems (EIS) are another valuable tool. By tracking performance, behavior, and wellness indicators, agencies can spot risks early and intervene before issues escalate. Some EIS systems can even turn data from action reports and internal affairs investigations into a wellness score. When scores get too high, supervisors are automatically notified and equipped to intervene.

Together, these support structures can help save lives and preserve careers.

Structural and Cultural Changes

Structural and cultural changes can create a healthier, more sustainable environment for officers. Many agencies today are understaffed, which can lead to excessive overtime. Others may simply have inadequate shift scheduling software. When officers are chronically overworked, things like burnout, stress, and poor decision-making follow close behind.

Implementing fatigue-aware scheduling, such as rotating night shifts, can help officers get more consistent sleep. By acknowledging the impact of fatigue on performance and safety, your agency can better protect its personnel.

Reducing administrative burden is another good strategy. Investing in technology like Centerline AI can help. With video transcription, customizable report templates, and automatic report generation, officers can spend more time in the field and less time behind the desk. It also gives officers more time to recover off-duty.

Combined, these changes help create an agency culture that values officer wellness just as much as (or more than) operational performance.

Ensuring Officer Resilience

“Resilience” is a critical trait in law enforcement. Resilience isn’t ignoring negative emotions or stress. It’s not just pushing through tough times. It’s about having the tools and support to recover, reset and keep going.

Police departments can strengthen officer resilience by normalizing mental health conversations, offering stress management training and using fatigue-aware scheduling. Support systems like therapy, mental health apps and peer support programs should be accessible and stigma-free.

When officers are equipped with these tools, they’re able to process trauma and maintain long-term health. Resilience isn’t built alone. It takes leadership, resources and a culture that cares.

Schedule a discovery call today to learn how CentralSquare solutions like Centerline AI can help your agency better support its officers.